SUNGAI BESAR, Jun 17 – The Election Commission today urged private sector employers to give their staff permission to go out and vote in the by-election here tomorrow. EC official Datuk Abd Aziz Khalidin said employers who prevented their workers from exercising their responsibility as voters would be taken action against under Section 25(3) of the Election Offences Act 1954, which carries a fine of not more than RM5,000 or one year in jail on conviction.
A total of 42,365 voters will be casting their ballot at 28 polling centres. Meanwhile, Abd Aziz said political parties and candidates are not permitted to open a booth or to campaign. He said there were only the EC can open a booth on polling day for voters to check their voting particulars. He told this to reporters after observing works to set up the polling paraphernalia at Dewan Seri Bernam here today.
He also cautioned voters against handing their identity card to anyone except EC staff, as it could be misused. The Sungai Besar parliamentary by-election will see three contenders vying for the seat, namely, Barisan Nasional candidate Budiman Mohd Zohdi, PAS’ Dr Abdul Rani Osman and Azhar Abdul Shukur from parti Amanah. The constituency has 42,655 registered voters of which 42,365 are normal voters, 286 early voters and four absentee voters who are living abroad. — Bernama
