THE 2022 general election and Bugaya state by-election are estimated to cost RM1.01 billion, Election Commission (EC) chairman Abdul Ghani Salleh said.

He said a total of 363,515 workers would be on duty during the national polls and the Bugaya state by-election, and there would be 8,958 ordinary polling centres comprising 38,348 polling stations and 578 early voting centres made up of 970 polling stations.

“In total, there will be 9,536 polling centres with 39,318 polling stations and channels,” he told a press conference after chairing a special EC meeting on the polls in Putrajaya today.

Ghani said the EC has appointed 222 returning officers and 1,264 assistant returning officers to handle the general election and the Bugaya state by-election.

“To monitor election campaign activities throughout the official campaigning period, the EC will set up 625 election campaign enforcement teams which will comprise police personnel, representatives from the local authorities and the contesting candidates’ representatives,” he said.

He said a total of 222 nomination centres and 222 official vote counting centres would be utilised.

Ghani said candidates intending to contest in the national polls and the Bugaya state by-election are urged to check with the state election office or office of the returning officer in their respective area on the filling of the nomination form before nomination day on November 5 to facilitate the process.

In addition, he advised prospective candidates to pay their deposit early to ensure that all processes for the nomination could run smoothly.

“We wish to remind that nomination forms that are completed and checked by the office of the returning officer must be submitted either by the candidates, their proposers or seconders on nomination day at the designated centres,” he said.

Ghani said the EC will continue to broadcast the election processes via live streaming for selected polling centres and stations on its Facebook page as done previously.

He said the EC is also inviting government agencies, civil society groups and other interested parties to act as observers of election processes starting from the nomination of candidates until the polling results are announced.

“Application to be an election observer was opened on October 11 and will close on October 21,” he said adding that applications could still be submitted via email to [email protected]. 

Ghani said to encourage electors to cast their vote on polling day, and that the EC will run a “Let’s Vote” campaign through various media channels and the installation of banners at strategic locations.

The EC today announced that Malaysians will go to the polls on November 19 in the country’s 15th general election and nomination date has been set for November 5 and early voting, November 15.

The general election involves 222 parliamentary seats, 59 Perak state seats, Pahang (42) and Perlis (15). 

The Bugaya state by-election in Sabah will also be held at the same time. – Bernama, October 20, 2022.