For the first time in election history, the rakyat will be able to catch a glimpse of the vote-counting process in the upcoming Cameron Highlands by-election.
Election Commission (EC) chairperson Azhar Azizan Harun announced today that the counting of votes in one selected voting stream will be aired live through the commission’s social media accounts.
“This live telecast is an initiative by the EC and the secretariat to make the voting process more transparent and to create awareness among the public about the vote-counting process,” he told a press conference at the commission’s headquarters in Putrajaya today.
The EC has decided to trial the initiative in just one voting stream because of limited connectivity in the constituency, Azhar explained.
“We are trying it out in only one voting stream due to limited broadband infrastructure and Internet in Cameron Highlands.
“God willing, we will be able to involve more voting streams in the future,” he said, adding that the voting stream involved had yet to be determined.
As per his previous pledge to do so, Azhar said that unverified results will also be aired live.
This will be done through the EC’s official website and on a screen set up at the official vote tallying centre at the Dewan Jubli Perak Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah in Cameron Highlands.
He earlier announced that the Cameron Highlands by-election will be held on Jan 26while nomination will be on Jan 12. Both days are Saturdays.
Candidates can be ‘pre-checked’
Furthermore, the EC will be introducing an option for potential candidates to submit their candidacy forms for “pre-checking” and even pay their deposits before nomination day.
Forms can be submitted for pre-checking at the Pahang EC office or the office of Cameron Highlands district officer Ishak Md Napis, who has been appointed as the returning officer.
Azhar explained that this was to reduce the likelihood of mishaps within the one-hour nomination window.
“This is to ensure the nomination process can be completed earlier and that it runs smoothly,” he said.
He stressed that candidacy forms will still need to officially submitted to the EC on nomination day. As for deposits, receipts will need to be produced if they have already been paid.
Voter drive
Meanwhile, the EC will also be running a campaign to encourage higher voter turnout.
Called ‘Jom Kita Undi’ (Let’s Vote), the campaign will span online media, print media as well as advertisement boards and banners.
“For this by-election, the EC predicts 70 percent of voters will vote,” Azhar added.
The Cameron Highlands by-election was triggered after no appeal was filed against the Election Court's decision to nullify BN's parliamentary seat win in the 14th general election.
The Election Court had on Nov 30 declared the Cameron Highlands seat vacant after determining that corrupt practices had led to incumbent MP C Sivarraajh’s win in the 14th general election (GE14).
Sivarraajh has denied personally buying votes, saying it was agents who had done so. -Mkini
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