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Nothing amiss about early closure

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Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar. Photo: Ramidi Subari

KUCHING: Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has brushed aside allegations that the Election Commission’s (EC) had deliberately closed numerous polling centres early during the Johor election on Saturday.

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) explained that the polling centres were gazetted for early closure due to the low number of registered voters assigned to cast their votes at the station.

He asserted that the polling centres must abide by the rules and stipulation of operation according to the gazette.

“If (the gazette) says to close at 2pm, then they must not allow latecomers to vote after 2pm. This is the law.

“This is not under the discretion of myself, or any individuals, the police or even the EC. This has long been gazetted and all parties including the voters have been informed,” he told a press conference during his visit to Kampung Tanjung Bako, here on Sunday (Mar 13).

The minister in charge of overseeing the EC’s operation during the polls stressed that all candidates must be aware of the operational hours of all polling centres in their constituencies.

“This is so that they can inform their voters to turn up according to the operation hours and not be late on polling day,” he added.

On Saturday (Mar 12), Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) candidate for Layang-Layang Dr Mazlee Malik instructed lawyers to lodge a police report following a viral video on social media showing a disgruntled woman in front of a polling station after not being able to get in to vote.

In the 45-second edited video, the woman was heard saying that she had never heard the news that any polling station would be closed before 5pm.

Wan Junaidi said the police report was not a problem as the EC has carried out its responsibility according to what was previously gazetted and decided.

“The police report was made to confirm whether the alleged claims were true or otherwise. It was then forwarded to me as the minister in charge of the EC and I have replied with the appropriate response explaining the situation.

“So we are not worried about the police report,” he said.

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