THE standard operating procedures (SOPs) used in the Chini by-election last month will be adopted in the Slim by-election later this month, with some improvements, said Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today.

According to Ismail Sabri, the guidelines will allow party operations centres to be opened during the election period, including polling day, provided they comply with the SOPs set by the Election Commission (EC).

“The operations centres will need to be registered with the EC in advance to facilitate the monitoring process.

“Campaigns and talks are only allowed to be held in enclosed areas to facilitate the process of monitoring and checking body temperature,” he said at a press conference in Putrajaya today.

Ismail Sabri also said the total attendance should be according to the size of the area, with the need to maintain social distancing and should not exceed 250 people at a time.

He said that people were required to wear face masks throughout the by-election.

The Slim seat in Perak will go to the polls on August 29 with nominations set for August 15.

The seat was vacated on July 15 following the death of assemblyman Mohd Khusairi Abdul Talib at Bentong Hospital in Pahang.

Ismail Sabri said voters should follow the time set for voting, to be fixed by the EC.

“This is to prevent congestion at polling stations.”

Ismail Sabri also said the SOP set for this by-election is based on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.

“This is to prevent the spread of Covid-19 during the by-election.

“However, the rules under the various election laws are also still applicable during the by-election.” – August 6, 2020.