Security personnel cast ballot as early voters today





KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 (Bernama) -- Early voting for the 14th General Election (GE14) today involving a total of 278,590 security personnel, including their spouses went smoothly in 586 polling centres nationwide as of 10 am.

It took place four days before the GE14 polling day on May 9. Parliament was dissolved on April 7 to pave the way for the general election.

Members of the security forces, comprising the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and General Operations Force (GOF) as well as their spouses were seen gathering early at the polling centres before the voting process started at 8 am.

In the federal capital, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun and Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Noor Rashid Ibrahim cast their ballots at the Bukit Aman RMP headquarters.

Among the early voting centres opened here are at the Sports Complex, Tuanku Mizan Military Hospital; Camp Perdana Sungai Besi and Sekolah Kebangsaan Kementah, Jalan Padang Tembak.

Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor cast his vote at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Kementah.

In PENANG, 31 polling centres throughout the state were opened for early voting involving 11,613 people.

State EC director Md Fuad Mohd Sherif said the number comprised 6,136 police personnel and their spouses besides 5,477 military personnel and their spouses.

In KELANTAN, 41 polling centres were opened statewide, including five military camps and 36 district police stations as well as police stations.

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Jeli parliamentary seat and

Air Lanas state seat also visited the polling centre at the Camp Batu 11 First Battalion Border Regiment, Tanah Merah to take a first hand look at the early voting process.

In SELANGOR, the early voting involved 25,462 police and military personnel at 40 polling centres opened at IPD and military camps.

Among those exercising their voting rights were Selangor Police chief Datuk Mazlan Mansor at the Officers' Mess of Selangor Contingent Police headquarters in Shah Alam.

BN candidate for Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat Datuk Seri Dr Irmohizam Ibrahim also spent some time monitoring the early polls at the Kuala Selangor IPD.

In KEDAH, the early voting process involved 10,211 military personnel and 7,101 police personnel and their spouses at 24 polling centres.

In Langkawi, 1,588 were registered as early voters with two polling centres opened at the Langkawi Police Training Centre (PULAPOL) and Rahah Hall, Royal Malaysian Navy Region Three Headquarters.

Also seen spending some time at the early polling centre was PKR-Amanah candidate for Pokok Sena parliamentary seat, Datuk Mahfuz Omar at the Kedah Police Contingent headquarters.

In PUTRAJAYA, Putrajaya District Police chief ACP Rosly Hassan was among the earliest individuals to undertaken the early voting process, which started as early as 8 am.

A total of 823 police personnel from the Putrajaya IPD were eligible to cast their votes.

In SARAWAK, the Sarawak Police Contingent headquarters in Jalan Badruddin in Kuching was one of the polling centres for police personnel to have their early voting and Sarawak Deputy Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Dzuraidi Ibrahim was among the earliest to vote.

In Miri, early voting for police personnel took place at the Ruai Kenyalang Hall, Miri Police Contingent headquarters and the Mustapha Hall of Miri GOF 12th Battalion.

In MELAKA, a total of 12,268 military personnel and 2,904 police personnel and their spouses were eligible for early voting at 31 polling centres statewide while Melaka Police chief Datuk Abdul Jalil Hassan cast his ballot at the Melaka IPK in Bukit Beruang.

BN candidate for the Hang Tuah Jaya parliamentary seat, Tan Sri Mohd Ali Rustam also inspected the early voting process at Melaka IPK.

In PERAK, based on record, the Lumut parliamentary seat has the highest number of early voters, at 11,900, including 11,223 who cast their votes at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Pangkalan TLDM and Sekolah Kebangsaan Pangkalan TLDM.

A total of 71 polling centres statewide are operating today to provide facilities to 23,634 military personnel and 13,773 police personnel and their spouses.

In JOHOR, the early voting process went smoothly at three main polling centres, namely Johor IPK in Johor Bahru, Army Combat Centre (PULADA) in Ulu Tiram and Mahkota Camp in Kluang. Some 67 polling centres were opened in the state.

In Mahkota Camp, 7th Brigade Infantry commander Brig Gen Datuk Mohd Hassan Loman also inspected the early voting process there involving 5,074 personnel and their spouses.

BN candidate for Muar parliamentary seat, Datuk Seri Razali Ibrahim and his challenger Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (PKR-PPBM) were also seen lending a helping hand to the early voters at the Parit Perupuk RMP Housing Estate Centre, Muar.

In TERENGGANU, the process was reported to have gone smoothly with 7,482 registered as early voters.Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman checked on the early voting process at the 9th Battalion Camp, Gong Badak GOF. Also opened as polling centres are Kuala Terengganu IPK, Seri Pantai Seberang Takir Camp and Gong Kedak RMAF Base, Besut.

In PAHANG, 21,358 military and police personnel and their spouses were eligible for early voting at 48 polling centres, among others being opened at Tanjung Gelang RMN Base, Alor Akar Police Housing Badminton Hall and Batu 10 Camp RMAF Base.

In SABAH, 53 early polling centres were opened with Eastern Fleet commander Rear Admiral Datuk Syed Zahiruddin Putra Syed Osman and wife Datin Mariam Suri Ahmad casting their votes at Sekolah Kebangsaan Pangkalan TLDM Kota Kinabalu.

At the Sabah IPK officers mess polling centre in Kepayan, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Ramli Din was among the first to vote.

In NEGERI SEMBILAN, 5,608 policemen and 14,156 military personnel and their spouses were eligible for early voting at 38 polling centres opened for that purpose.

Meanwhile in PERLIS, state EC chairman Ahmad Ibrahim Mohd Tayib said 11 early polling centres were provided statewide, namely four at Padang Besar parliamentary constituency, three in Kangar parliamentary and four in Arau.

A total of 2,047 military personnel and 2,073 police personnel and their spouses were eligible for early voting in the state.

-- BERNAMA