Smooth postal voting for police & army (KT by-Election)

The postal voting for 1,001 police and 27 army personnel for the Kuala Terengganu Parliamentary by-election went smoothly albeit slowly on Monday.

The Election Commission deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar who oversaw the process said everything went smoothly, but at times the waiting lines were a bit long.

"I have to ask EC officials to hasten the balloting process so that the waiting time can be cut," he told reporters at the State Police Contingent headquarters.

The ballotting for the army was conducted at the Seberang Takir camp.

On the campaigning process, which entered its seventh day on Monday, Wan Ahmad said overall, the commission was satisfied as there were no major problems reported so far except for minor disturbances.

He said there were reports of party workers from the opposing sides teasing each other, spitting at each other and even a slapping incident, but none had escalated into a fight.

On complaints by Parti Keadilan Rakyat that it was having difficulties in securing police permits for their ceramahs and other campaign activities, Wan Ahmad that was because the party was not contesting in the by-election.

He said under the rule, only parties contesting in any election were allowed to be involved in campaign activities.

Since the party contesting in the by-election was PAS, only that party would be issued permit to hold gatherings and ceramahs, he said.

The police two days ago explain that ceramah and gathering permit would only be issued to PAS.

However, Wan Ahmad said, PKR leaders could still take part in ceramahs and other campaign activities on permits issued to PAS, provided PAS representatives were also present at such activities.

Wan Ahmad said parties taking part in the by-election were allowed to campaign as they had placed deposits with the EC.

"Other PKR leaders can campaign and hold ceramahs, provided they register their applications through PAS," he added.

Wan Ahmad explained that unlike Barisan Nasional which is a registered political coalition, PKR - made up of PAS, PKR and DAP - had yet to register and their candidates contest elections on the ticket of their respective parties.

- The Star