BUKIT MERTAJAM, 19 May 2009: The Election Commission (EC) today warned the DAP, PAS and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) against using their voter registration booths near polling stations for last-minute canvassing of votes in the Penanti state by-election on 31 May.
EC chairperson Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said the parties had pledged not to use the registration booths to campaign.
“They appealed to be allowed to have a table and computer under an umbrella for voters to check their registration details and pledged not to campaign.
“If they do not keep to their pledge, it will be the first and last time their appeal is considered. We will not allow the registration booths in the future,” he told reporters after a visit to the nomination centre at the Dewan Perdana of the National Youth Skills Institute (IKBN), here.
Nomination for the Penanti by-election is on 23 May.
Abdul Aziz said there was no necessity for the parties to have their voter registration booths near the polling stations as the EC also provided the facility for voters to check their details.
The EC had decided to disallow the voter registration booths within 50 metres of polling stations as they were often used for last-minute campaigning. All campaigning must stop at midnight on the eve of polling.
Abdul Aziz said he was happy with the nomination centre, and said the EC and the police would monitor the by-election closely to ensure it went on smoothly.
The Barisan Nasional (BN) is not contesting the by-election as it deemed forced by-elections a waste of public funds. — Bernama
