PUTRAJAYA: The Chini state by-election on July 4 will serve as a benchmark for the Election Commission (EC) in holding polls during a pandemic.
Its chairman, Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun, said the commission is preparing the standard operating procedure (SOP) for the Chini by-election to protect the health and safety of all parties, including voters.
"The Chini by-election will be conducted using the new SOP.
"In the event that other elections are held in future and the Covid-19 pandemic is still not over, the SOP will be applicable," he said in an exclusive interview with Bernama TV at his office here, recently.
Azhar said the SOP will be improved upon from time to time, depending on the situation and circumstances.
The SOP, which was presented during an engagement with the Health Ministry (MOH), the National Security Council (MKN), the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), covers seven election processes.
They are: nomination day, the printing of ballot papers, the sending of postal ballot papers, early voting day, the campaign period, polling day and the announcement of results.
"We have discussed twice with them (MOH, MKN, NADMA, PDRM) on May 8 and 21 on this special SOP, but it has yet to be finalised. It is subject to the government's directive on the Covid-19 pandemic in the country," he said.
Azhar said the EC's approach to the Chini election is based on the safety and health of voters, candidates, supporters and election workers.
On whether election workers for the by-election would be required to undergo swab tests, Azhar said it would not be made compulsory. However, they would be required to have their body temperature taken, disinfect their hands, and maintain social distancing at the nomination centre and the vote counting centre.
Nomination day for the Chini by-election is June 20, with early voting set for June 30 and polling on July 4.
The by-election is called after the incumbent, Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Harun, died of a heart attack at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital on May 6.
In the 14th general election (GE14) in May 2018, Abu Bakar polled 10,027 votes to win the seat by a majority of 4,622 votes against Pas candidate Mohd Fadhil Noor Abdul Karim who obtained 5,405 votes, and Mohamad Razali Ithnain of PKR (1,065 votes). – BERNAMA
