AT least 65% of the 267 early voters comprising police personnel have cast their ballots in the early polling for the Slim by-election as at noon today, the Election Commission (EC) said.

Early voting is being held at the Muallim district police headquarters (IPD) in Slim River near here from 8am to 5.30pm.

Polling is being conducted in accordance with the standard operating procedure (SOP) to check Covid-19, such as the practice of physical distancing, wearing of masks and use of hand sanitiser and taking of body temperature.

EC chairman Abdul Ghani Salleh, his deputy Dr Azmi Sharom, Perak police chief Razarudin Husain, Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Mohd Zaidi Aziz and independent candidate Amir Khusyairi Mohamad Tanusi were at the polling centre to observe the proceedings.

Muallim district police chief Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman said polling proceeded smoothly as voters were told to follow the recommended time slots for voting to avoid congestion at the polling centre.

“The SOP needs to be observed. We do not want all the officers and men to come at the same time because we want to avoid crowding,” he told reporters.

The by-election is a three-cornered fight between Zaidi and two independents, Amir Khusyairi and former teacher S. Santharasekaran. Polling is on Saturday. – Bernama, August 25, 2020.