Batu Sapi by-election set for Nov 4 as well

FULL REPORT PUTRAJAYA: The Election Commission (EC) has set Nov 4 as polling day for the Batu Sapi parliamentary seat, while nomination is on Oct 26, EC chairman Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof announced here today. The dates are the same as for the Galas state seat by-election in Kelantan.

Abdul Aziz said the EC decided to hold the by-elections simultaneously based on its previous experience of holding three simultaneous by-elections -- for the Bukit Gantang in Perak, Bukit Selambau in Kedah and Batang Ai in Sarawak -- last year.

"We want to shorten the time taken to conduct the by-elections, save on cost as well as minimising by-election tensions.

"There is also limited period available for a separate by-election because of the many upcoming events taking place such as the Deepavali, Aidiladha, Sabah state assembly sitting, Awal Muharram, Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination and so on. This is the best date for the Batu Sapi by-election.

"Sabah is also ready to face the by-election," he told reporters today.
The Batu Sapi seat fell vacant following the death of its incumbent member of parliament Edmund Chong Ket Wah, 54, in a road accident along Jalan Sembulan-Tanjung Aru, Sabah on Oct 9.

Chong, the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) treasurer,  won the Batu Sapi parliamentary seat at the 2008 general election beating independent candidate Chung Kwong Wing by a majority of 3,708 votes. Chong had garnered 9,479 votes.

Chong's death triggered the 13th by-election for the country since the March 2008 general election.
The seat has 25,582 registered voters, including 1,575 postal votes.

The Galas seat fell vacant following the death of its PAS rep Che Hashim Sulaima on Sept 27. BN/Umno is expected to face PAS in a straight fight here.
Simultaneous announcement
Abdul Aziz said the EC will monitor activities during the campaigning peiod through its two enforcement teams.

He added the EC allocated RM1.3 million for the by-election which would involve about 400 election workers.

The EC expects the voter turnout to be about 80 percent compared with 63.1 percent in the last general election.

Abdul Aziz also said the results of both the by-elections could be announced simultaneously at 8pm on Nov 4.

The EC has appointed Sandakan Municipal Council secretary Mohamad Hamsan Awang Supain as the returning officer.

The nomination and tallying of votes would be held at the Sandakan community hall while 11 schools and a regional library would be used as polling stations, comprising 45 polling streams, he said.

Batu Sapi, which will see the nation's 13th by-election since the 2008 general election, is expected to pit BN against PKR.