EC completes final checks on ballot boxes and polling centres for Johor state election, with 2.7 million voters expected to cast ballots tomorrow.
JOHOR BAHRU: Election Commission (EC) personnel across Johor have been busy today carrying out final preparations at polling centres and vote tallying centres to ensure that everything will go smoothly when polling for the 16th Johor State Election begins tomorrow.
EC Chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said thorough inspections of ballot boxes and election equipment for all 56 state seats had been completed to ensure everything was complete and ready for use.
He stressed that the process was among the most critical procedures to guarantee a smooth polling day and facilitate the participation of 2.7 million registered voters in fulfilling their civic responsibility.
“So far, I have been informed that almost all Returning Officers (ROs) have completed their duties at the 56 centres across Johor,” he told reporters after inspecting the ballot box verification process at the Sultan Ibrahim Jubilee Hall in Pontian and the Permas Multipurpose Hall in Kukup today.
He also reminded voters to cast their ballots during their recommended time slots to avoid congestion, to bring their identity cards, and to follow the instructions of election officials at polling centres.
Meanwhile, a Bernama check at Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Mutiara here found EC personnel busy labelling materials, arranging tables and chairs, and installing directional signboards at the polling centre.
Polling centre supervisor for the Puteri Wangsa state constituency, Mohd Rasib Ngadiman, said preparations to convert 12 classrooms into polling streams were progressing smoothly with the assistance of 74 EC personnel and security provided by 12 police officers.
“At the same time, the EC has also provided wheelchairs for senior citizens and persons with disabilities,” he said.
In Kluang, polling centre supervisor for Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampong Melayu, Kamarul Zaman Ahmad, said preparations involving 30 personnel were carried out meticulously to set up five polling streams to accommodate approximately 3,000 voters in the Mahkota state constituency.
A similar scene was observed in Batu Pahat, where preparations at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Dato’ Seth in Yong Peng focused particularly on ensuring comfortable polling facilities for senior citizens, young voters, and persons with disabilities.
Meanwhile, in Mersing, EC personnel faced logistical challenges in transporting ballot boxes to four islands in the Tenggaroh state constituency- Pulau Aur, Pulau Pemanggil, Pulau Sibu, and Pulau Tinggi – via the Mersing Jetty.
Tenggaroh RO Jamil Hasni Abdullah said the operation involved approximately 50 personnel, accompanied by a tight security escort from the Marine Police Force and the Mersing district police headquarters to ensure the safety of the election assets.
A total of 172 candidates are vying for 56 state seats, with Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) fielding candidates in all constituencies, while Perikatan Nasional (PN) are fielding 33 candidates, Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) 15, the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA) four, while the Malaysian Orang Asli Party (ASLI) and the Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) are each fielding one candidate, alongside six independent candidates.
For the latest news on the 16th Johor State Election, visit https://prn.bernama.com/johor.
