Bkt Gantang electoral roll is clean: EC

(The Star) – The electoral roll for the up-coming Bukit Gantang by-election is free of discrepancies.

State Election Commission director Ahmad Adli Abdullah said as far as the Commission was concerned, the roll was clean.

“So far, no one has lodged any complaint about the roll,” he said, adding that the ballot papers for 138 postal voters would be issued starting 11am Thursday.

The Commission, he said, would start printing ballot papers after midnight Wednesday after the cooling off period for candidates taking part in the by-election ended.

The by-election would see a three-cornered race between three candidates — Barisan Nasional’s Ismail Safian, PAS’ Datuk Seri Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin and an indipendent Kamarul Ramizu Idris.

Speaking at a press conference here Wednesday, Ahmad Adli said that all political parties could inspect the election materials, including ballot papers for non-postal voters, next Monday at the Taiping Municipal Council Hall.

On another matter, he clarified that only political parties and individuals taking part in the by-election would be issued with ceramah (public addresses) permits.

He was responding to reports that the police had refused to grant ceramah permits to some political parties.

“We are aware that some parties are unhappy over the issuance of permits. It must be understood that according to the regulations, only parties taking part in the by-election can apply for permits.

“However, they are allowed to bring speakers from other parties (in their) ceramah. And in this case (the Bukit Gantang by-election), only PAS can apply for permits, and not DAP or PKR,” he added.

DAP, PAS and PKR are members of the Pakatan Rakyat alliance. Pakatan, unlike the Barisan Nasional coalition, is not a registered entity.