EC: KL voters should plan voting time




KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 (Bernama)-- Voters in Kuala Lumpur need to plan when they want to go out to vote to avoid traffic congestion, trouble finding parking lots and long queues at polling stations in the 14th general election, on May 9.

Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya Federal Territories Election Commission Director Mohd Heikal Kamarudin said voters should avoid going out to vote in the last minute just before the voting centres closed at 5 pm.

"Voters are also encouraged to use public transport to avoid traffic congestion and to overcome the problem of finding parking places at polling centres.

"Voters cannot bring their vehicles into the school compound which is the voting place for safety purposes. Nevertheless, a special zone is provided to allow drivers drop off passengers," he said when met after appearing as a guest speaker of 1Malaysia Negaraku talk programme over Bernama Radio here today.

The Election Commission (EC) had set polling day on May 9, nomination of candidates on April 28 and early voting on May 5.

Mohd Heikal said the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya have 12 parliamentary seats involving 1,500 polling stations.

"The oldest voters are placed in the first channel which is usually limited to 350 voters after taking into account the needs of senior citizens on wheelchairs and so on.

"Normally, voters from channel one will vote on the ground level of the building. The subsequent channels, namely, two, three and four will list 700 voters who will vote in the upper floors. However, if any young voters have difficulties using the stairs in certain circumstances, they will be allowed to vote on the ground floor as well, " he said.

A total of 10,093 temporary polling staff would handle the elections in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, said Mohd Heikal.

Registered voters can review (their status) via four ways, namely, using the MySPR Semak smart application; EC's official portal www.spr.gov.my; SMS to 15888 by typing EC identity card no. or contact EC at 03-88927018.

-- BERNAMA