UMNO secretary-general Annuar Musa has questioned the Election Commission’s decision to limit voting time for a majority of the stations in Cameron Highlands.

Out of the 29 stations, only four will open until 5pm on polling day on January 26.

The stations are Bertam Valley, Tanah Rata, Ringlet and Brinchang. The rest will either close between 1pm and 4pm.

“We asked the EC why and the answer is ‘it cannot be changed’.

“The EC needs to look into this issue,” he said today after attending a breakfast session in Tanah Rata.

Annuar said in some Orang Asli areas, voters have to travel 40km to vote.

“The voting time in these areas is too short. Why only in the town area are they open until 5pm and the remote areas, they close early?”

The by-election will see a four-cornered fight between Pakatan Harapan’s M. Manogaran, Ramli Mohd Nor (Barisan Nasional) and independents Sallehudin Ab Talib and Wong Seng Yee.

Cameron Highlands is huge and the voters are spread out all over, he said, criticising the early closing time.

“The process to get the voters out from the remote areas will take time, especially in the Orang Asli kampung. 

“So, if they want to travel from one station to another it will take two hours.

“In Pos Lemoy, the voting ends at 1pm and Pos Telanuk, it’s 3pm. Why is this so?”

Annuar said the EC should look into this as it is the right of voters to be able to vote. 

“What if they can’t make it in the morning and want to go in the afternoon but the stations are closed. 

“We are only worried because in Jelai, the voting time has been shortened. I heard that there were efforts to ensure that the turnout is low so we can’t defend the seat. 

“I hope the voters are aware of the closing time.” – January 18, 2019.