KUCHING: The Election Commission (EC) today announced that the 12th Sarawak state election will be held on Dec 18.
Its chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh said the EC has received an official notification from the Sarawak state legislative assembly (DUN) speaker on the dissolution of the 11th Sarawak DUN on Nov 3.
"So, we had a meeting today as the 12th Sarawak state election needed to be held to fill the 82 vacant seats, following the dissolution of the 11th DUN Sarawak on Nov 3," he said.
"As such, we have decided the Sarawak state election will be held on Dec 18; nomination on Dec 6 and early voting on Dec 14," he said at a press conference here today.
Abdul Ghani said a 12-day campaign would start on Dec 6 after the nomination process till 11.59pm on Dec 17. A total 82 nomination centres and 82 counting centres would be set up.
To ensure the smooth process of the state polls, he said, the EC had appointed 82 managing officers and 249 assistants.
In addition, a total 155 enforcement teams comprising police, local government officers and candidate representatives will be set up to monitor election campaign activities.
Abdul Ghani said RM150 million had been allocated for the state polls, while 46,565 personnel will be involved in the election process.
The voting process will be conducted at 1,866 centres, involving 3,555 channels on Dec 18 and 85 centres, involving 111 channels for early voting (on Dec 14).
As of Nov 2, he said, a total 1,252,014 voters were registered in the state, consisting 1,228,858 normal voters, 12,585 soldiers and spouses, 10,458 policemen and 113 individuals who were currently abroad.
Abdul Ghani said the EC expected a 70 per cent voter turnout, adding that the commission would also conduct a "Jom Kita Undi" campaign to encourage voters to exercise their responsibility.
"The EC also hopes all parties will give their cooperation, including politicians and the media to encourage voters to come forward and vote."
Abdul Ghani said the Covid-19 prevention guidelines for this election would be based on advice from the National Security Council, Health Ministry and police.
He said the EC would also make several improvements such as the preparation of special channels for voters aged 60-years-old and above at every voting centre; extend the voting hour to 5.30pm and ensure a total 13,971 disabled voters who are registered under the Social Welfare Department cast their votes at Channel 1.
On Nov 3, the Sarawak DUN dissolved automatically, thus making way for a state election, to be held within 60 days.
The dissolution was in compliance with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah's consent to revoke the Proclamation of Emergency for Sarawak on the same date.