Johor goes to the polls today

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Teka Teki PRN Johor - NMH Graphics by DH

239 candidates from 15 political parties are contesting for 56 seats up for grabs in this state election

JOHOR BARU – Johoreans started to cast their votes today as early as 8 am to decide who among the contesting political parties gets to rule Johor.

The state’s 15th election will also witness a total of 173,177 youths aged between 18 and 20 who are automatically registered with the implementation of Undi18, going to the polls as first-time voters.

There are 1,021 polling stations, which started at 8 am today to allow 2,539,606 voters, out of the total 2,597,742 registered voters to fulfil their responsibilities.

On Tuesday (08 March), a total of 18,625 early voters comprising policemen, soldiers and their spouses cast their votes.  

Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) reported that as for the voting process today, polling centres with one or two channels will be closed earlier as gazetted and they are at Balai Raya Pulau Besar in Mersing, which will close at 11 am; Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Pulau Pemanggil, Mersing (1 pm); 15 polling centres will close at 2 pm and 41 others at 4 pm.

The remaining polling centres will close at 6 pm.

A total of 239 candidates from 15 political parties are contesting for 56 seats in this state election.

Contesting Parties

Political parties contesting are Barisan Nasional (BN); Perikatan Nasional (PN); Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang); Pakatan Harapan and its component party PKR, which is contesting using its own logo, as well as the strategic partners in the coalition, the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA); Parti Warisan (Warisan); Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM); Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM).

There will be seven three-cornered fights, 35 four-cornered fights, eight five-cornered fights, four six-cornered fights, and two seven-cornered fights.

Among the important personalities expected to cast their votes today are Johor Menteri Besar Hasni Mohammad at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Pengkalan Raja, Pekan Nanas in Pontian; former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sri Muar in Muar; Senior Minister of Defence Hishammuddin Tun Hussein at the Taman Sri Lambak Religious School in Kluang and MUDA president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman at SK Taman Sutera here.

The EC has reminded all voters to comply with the standard operating procedures (SOP), which includes wearing the face mask, using hand sanitiser, recording their attendance, and observing physical distancing.

Voters with Covid-19 symptoms would be allowed to cast their votes at a special tent monitored by health officials, while those categorised as Patient Under Investigation (PUI) and Person Under Surveillance (PUS) must obtain prior permission from the district health officer to go the polling centre.

Bernama also quoted the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) as saying that the weather forecast this morning is clear, while thunderstorms are expected in the afternoon in seven districts namely Johor Bahru, Tangkak, Segamat, Muar, Batu Pahat, Pontian and Kulai.

The temperature throughout the day will hover between 23 and 33 degrees Celsius. – New Malaysia Herald

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