Lahad Datu safe for polls


OLIVIA MIWIL | olivia@mediaprima.com.my 

SECURITY ASSURED: Felda Sahabat villagers will be provided transport on polling day

KOTA KINABALU: THE Election Commission in Sabah will help  transport 671  voters from Felda Sahabat  in Lahad Datu to cast their ballots on polling day.
State EC director Datuk Md Idrus Ismail also assured voters that it was safe to cast their votes.
He said he had accompanied EC deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar on a visit to Lahad Datu and found no security threat to voters.
"SK Tanjung Labian, which serves as a polling centre, is safe, as proven by the return of the teachers and students there.
"Besides that, with the presence of police and army, there should be no problems in terms of security," he said at a press briefing at the state administrative complex here yesterday.
Idrus said EC expected a 75 per cent voter turn-out but cautioned people of possible rumours to frighten voters from casting their votes.
"I hope the matter will be handled well by the security forces, and for the media to play their role in dispelling such rumours."
Sabah EC, he said, expected to collect all ballot papers as early as 4pm for tallying.
"In the last election, EC encountered delays in collecting the ballot papers because of bad weather. But this time around, we have worked on several alternatives to overcome the problem. Returning officers will have helicopters or boats to overcome these barriers."
There are 1,006,288 registered voters in Sabah and Labuan, including 64 absent voters, 120 postal voters and 19,857 early voters.
As of yesterday, 361 nomination forms for parliamentary seats and 664 for state seats were bought.
Independent candidates took 421 forms, followed by Umno (150), Parti Keadilan Rakyat (94), Sabah Progressive Party (80), Star Reform Party Sabah (86), Parti Bersatu Sabah (54), Liberal Democratic Party (40), Pas (35), DAP (29), United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (20), Malaysia United People's Party (10) and MCA (6).

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