THERE was nothing unusual about the early voting of armed forces personnel, said Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar. 

The caretaker law minister said postal ballots for armed forces personnel, who had registered to vote by post, had been issued since last Monday and party agents were told about this by presiding officers. 

 “This is a normal process in all elections, whether for by-elections or general election. It is up to the individual registered as postal voter. What is important is that the postal ballot paper must arrive at the relevant presiding officer’s office before 5pm on polling day, November 19,” he said in a statement today. 

Wan Junaidi was responding to Pakatan Harapan chairman Anwar Ibrahim claim that he had evidence to show military personnel, particularly those in Bera, had cast their ballots on Thursday and were paid RM300 each to do so. 

However, caretaker Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein refuted it. Anwar responded that he had evidence and would provide it to the Election Commission. 

Yesterday, Armed Forces chief Affendi Buang said army personnel who were registered as postal voters began voting on November 7 while early voters, comprising 146,737 military personnel and their spouses, will vote tomorrow. 

In a statement, Affendi added that the Election Commission (EC) has gazetted 153 early polling stations nationwide for its personnel involved in Tuesday’s vote. 

“Armed forces personnel who were registered as postal voters have been voting from November 7 and the process will continue until November 19 before 5pm.” 

“As for early voters, 153 polling stations have been gazetted and 146,737 military personnel including their spouses are expected to exercise their right (to vote),” he said in a statement. 

In his statement, Affendi did not touch on Anwar’s claim. – November 14, 2022.