THE Election Commission (EC) has set September 28 as the polling day for the Mahkota state seat by-election in Johor, while nomination day and early voting will be set for September 14 and 24, respectively.

The seat was vacant after incumbent Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain  passed away at Hospital Enche’ Besar Hajjah Khalsom (HEBHK) in Kluang on August 2.

The former Johor Wanita UMNO chief suffered from breathing difficulties and was admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU).

According to the EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun, the poll will be running with a budget of RM2.4 million and it will be the 10th by-election after the 15th General Election held in 2022 (GE15). 

It will also be managed by a returning officer, four assistant officers, and 1,126 staff members.

The campaign period spans 14 days,commencing on September 14 and ending at 11.59 pm on September 27.

The by-election electoral roll comprises 66,318 voters, including 61,397 ordinary voters, 401 police personnel, 4,510 military personnel and their spouses as well as 10 absentee voters abroad.

Starting September 9, the by-election electoral roll will be available for purchase while Dewan Tunku Ibrahim Ismail in Kluang, Johor will serve as the nomination and official vote-tallying centre.

Ramlan said a total of 20 regular polling centres with 109 voting stations or channels and three early voting centres with 11 early voting stations will be used.

The EC is allowing government agencies, NGOs, and interested bodies to become election observers, monitoring the by-election process from nomination day to election results announcement.

“They are allowed to observe at locations such as the nomination centre, polling centres, vote counting stations, and the official vote-tallying centre, and must comply with all the appointment conditions set,“ Ramlan said in a press conference today.

The EC advises by-election candidates to submit nomination forms early with the Returning Officer’s Office or Johor State Election Office to streamline the process.

Meanwhile, voters can check their polling centre information, voting channel and serial number through the verification portal at https://mysprsemak.spr.gov.my or by calling the EC Hotline at 03-8892 7218, or via the MySPR Semak app beginning September 9.

Effective today, observers can access more information and application forms on the official EC portal at www.spr.gov.my, with the deadline being Aug 28. — TMR