By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Nov 24: Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the coming 12th Sarawak Elections (PRN12) have yet to be finalised.
Election Commission of Malaysia (EC) chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh said the authorities are in the midst of amending the SOPs, but they will be announced in due time.
“Covid-19 SOPs for PRN12 are being updated by the Ministry of Health (MOH), National Security Council (MKN), Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC).
“The SOPs will be published once they are finalised,” he said during a press conference at a local hotel here today.
Abdul Ghani also noted a total of 46,564 officers that will be appointed to handle matters relating to PRN12.
He said there will be 1,866 ordinary polling centres containing 3,555 polling stations and 85 early polling centres with 111 polling stations, thus amounting to 1,951 polling stations with 3,666 polling stations in coming election.
EC estimated that PRN12 will incur a total expenditure of about RM150 million.
Meanwhile, Abdul Ghani urged any government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), qualified bodies or individuals who are interested in being an election observer on Dec 18 polling day to submit their applications.
“All election observers are allowed to make observations at polling stations, counting stations and official vote tallying centers only, and must comply with all the conditions of appointment set by the EC.
“Applications to become an election observer can be submitted to the EC via e-mail pemerhati@spr.gov.my starting today (Nov 24) and the closing date is on Dec 1 (Wednesday),” he added.
EC has today set Dec 6 for nomination day, Dec 14 for early voting day and Dec 18 for polling day, following the handover of election writs to EC officers of 82 Sarawak constituencies today (Nov 24).
There will be a 12-day campaign starting Dec 6 after the nomination process until 11.59pm on Dec 17. — DayakDaily
