Johor polls: Rain not stopping early voters

 

JOHOR POLLS | Light rain in the morning did not stop members of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) from exercising their voting rights.

According to the Election Commission, 39 percent of voters have cast their ballots as of 11am.

Among the early voters was former Johor police chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, who is now director of the Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department.

He cast his ballot at the Dewan Dato’ Onn, Johor contingent police headquarters (IPK).

Ayob Khan said he was still voting in Johor for the Stulang state seat because he needed three months to change his voting address after being transferred to Bukit Aman effective Jan 25 this year.

“However, after this, I will change to (Kuala Lumpur),” said Ayob Khan who served as Johor police chief from March 2020 to January 2022.

Previously, he was the principal assistant director of Bukit Aman’s Counter-Terrorism, Special Branch (E8).

“If people ask if I miss Johor, for sure I miss it. I have served here for two years,” said the police personality who has attracted attention for handling important cases.

Former Johor police chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay

Also seen monitoring the early voting process at Johor IPK were Johor police chief Kamarul Zaman Mamat and EC secretary Ikmalrudin Ishak.

A total of 63 polling centres were opened for the early voting process, which will last from 8am to 5pm.

Over 22,000 members of the security forces, comprising the ATM, PDRM, and General Operations Force (GOF), as well as their spouses, are eligible to cast their votes today.

Facilities at the Johor IPK along Jalan Tebrau in Johor Bahru, as well as 10 district police headquarters statewide, and some government offices, have been turned into polling centres.

Military personnel will cast their votes at the Mahkota Camp, Kluang; Tebrau Camp, Ulu Tiram; the 10th Royal Malay Regiment (Ramd) Camp, Batu Pahat; and the 4th Royal Artillery Regiment (4RAD) Camp, Segamat.

A total of 239 candidates are vying for 56 seats in the Johor polls.

The polling day for the Johor state election has been set for this Saturday (March 12).

In MUAR, the Muar district police headquarters’ (IPD) Parit Prupok police staff quarters hall; the 6th Battalion GOF Bakri’s multipurpose hall; and the Parit Jawa police station information room are among facilities used as early voting centres.

Muar district police chief ACP Zaharudin Rasip, when met after voting at Muar IPD, said the early voting process at the polling station went smoothly in full compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) in the new norms.

“There are also tents set up here to enable any members and officers to be screened before voting,” he said, adding that there were 573 voters who were eligible to vote at the polling centre.

First-time voter, Constable Rahimi Ramli, 24, from Pasir Mas, Kelantan, said he was excited to carry out his voting responsibilities today despite having to queue for two and a half hours.

“I woke up as early as 6am to vote with other members, I must be excited because this is my first voting experience,” said Rahimi who has been stationed at the Muar IPD for three years.

Among those at the early voting centre for the Maharani state seat were BN candidate Noor Farah Shamsudin, Abd Aziz Talib (Perikatan Nasional), Nor Hayati Bachok (Pakatan Harapan), Riad Ahmad (Parti Pejuang Tanah Air), and Muhammad Hanis Asmui Md Salleh (Parti Bangsa Malaysia).

Early voting for Bentayan, Bukit Naning

Meanwhile, the 6th Battalion GOF Bakri’s multipurpose hall, which is the early voting centre for the Bentayan and Bukit Naning seats, has three polling channels opened.

One channel is for the Bentayan seat and two are for Bukit Naning, involving 976 early voters.

Also seen at the multipurpose hall were four of the five candidates contesting for the Bukit Naning seat - Ysahrudin Kusni (PKR), Mohd Fuad Tukirin (BN), Mahadzir Abu Said (Perikatan Nasional), and S Jeganathan (Independent).

A Bernama check found that the early voting process at the Mahkota Kluang Camp, Mersing IPD, and Batu Pahat IPD was running smoothly.

All police and military personnel present were complying with the SOP and there was no crowding of voters.

For the Kluang district, 4,748 early voters consisting of military personnel and spouses, as well as 446 officers, police, and their spouses, are eligible to vote.

A total of 631 police officers and personnel stationed at the Batu Pahat IPD and more than 300 police officers and personnel at the Mersing IPD are also eligible to vote today.

Meanwhile, Mersing district police chief Supt Cyril Edward Nuing said they received two reports on alleged mischief involving political party flags in the Felda Nitar area and the case was being investigated under Section 427 of the Penal Code.

- Bernama