CORPORAL Muhamad Muhaidin Haripen today created history by becoming the first person to vote under the new normal for elections in the country.

The 36-year-old, who was the first early voter to cast his vote in the Chini state seat by-election, said the voting process was different from the three general elections he had previously participated in.

The acting chief of the Chini police station said this time, he had to abide by special standard operating procedures (SOP) drawn up by the Election Commission (EC).

“We first have to register for polling at the entrance and observe social distancing. When we get to the first point, our body temperature is screened and we have to use the hand sanitiser. Then, when we enter (the premises), we use the hand sanitiser again before the EC officer marks us with permanent ink, and then we put on gloves and a mask before voting,” he said.

The polling centre in the Chini Police Station’s Information Room will be open from 8am today until noon to allow 18 early voters comprising police personnel to vote.

Muhaidin said previously, voters would dip their index finger into the election ink, but this time, it is brushed with ink.

Each brush is then discarded to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

After that, a polling clerk puts plastic gloves on him and only then can he mark the ballot paper.

Another police officer, Corporal Wan Nur Eza Ilmi Wan Zahari, 31, said he was excited about voting during the recovery movement control order (RMCO) as this was the first time this was happening in the history of the country’s election process.

“Not everybody gets to vote in these conditions; this is a precious moment for me,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has set up a special tent in the compound for voters with body temperature readings higher than 37.5°C.

Present at the polling centre were Chini by-election managing officer Zaliza Zulkifli and the three candidates – Barisan Nasional’s Mohd Sharim Md Zain, 41, and independent candidates Tengku Datuk Zainul Hisham Tengku Hussin, 64, and Mohd Shukri Mohd Ramli, 49.

The early voting process is being observed by agents of the candidates, as well as election observers, while the polling process is also being telecast via live-stream on the EC’s Facebook account.

All ballot boxes for early voting will be kept at the police station lock-up and counting will be done on polling day this Saturday at the counting centre in the Information Room of the Paloh Hinai Police Station.

There are 20,990 registered voters for the Chini by-election comprising 20,972 ordinary voters and 18 early voters. The voters comprise 10,269 men and 10,721 women. 

The Chini state seat is one of four under the Pekan parliamentary constituency. This is the first by-election to be held after the MCO was enforced on March 18. – Bernama, June 30, 2020.