The 222 nomination centres for the 13th general election (GE13) throughout the country will open for one hour from 9am tomorrow.

Candidates for the 222 parliamentary seats and 505 state seats will submit their nomination papers during that 60 minutes.

The returning officer will then check all the nomination papers and declare the candidates.

In GE13, for the first time, there is no longer the objection period and withdrawal of nomination, as per Regulation 9 of the Election (Conduct of Elections) Regulations 1981 (Amendment) (No 2) 2012 which came into effect on April 27 last year.

The Election Commission (EC) has set May 5 for polling, allowing 15 days from tomorrow for the candidates to campaign.

Many of the nomination centres will be at district offices, municipal council offices, district council offices, community halls and schools.

The EC, in a move to ensure a smooth nomination, has advised all candidates to arrive early at their respective nomination centres.

The candidates have been advised to ensure that they fill the form properly and scrutinise the conditions for eligibility of candidacy as provided for under Article 47 and Article 48(1) of the federal constitution.

The EC has reminded all candidates not to bring along too many supporters to the nomination centres to avert incidents of provocation. It has also told them not to bring musical instruments and loudhailers.

All political party leaders, candidates, supporters, NGO representatives and the public are reminded to adhere to the law, regulations and code of ethics and the instructions issued from time to time by the EC and the police.

Candidates advised to arrive early

Meanwhile, Barisan Nasional (BN) information and publicity chief Ahmad Maslan has advised all the coalition's candidates to arrive early at the nomination centres.

“The candidates must make sure that they fill up the form properly and have their proposer and seconder with them. Supporters accompanying them must exercise restraint and not get overly emotional,” he said when contacted.

Ahmad, who is a caretaker deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, did not

discount the possibility of the BN being involved in three-cornered contests in several parliamentary and state seats.

“I hope the independent candidates will not be BN leaders disappointed at not being fielded. I want to state here that BN members who resort to acts of sabotage can be suspended or expelled from their parties,” he said.

He also said that 20 ‘ceramah’ (talks) had been arranged for the 15 days of campaigning in every parliamentary constituency, with 10 in the day and 10 at night.

PAS information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man gave an assurance that the party’s supporters would exercise discipline and adhere to the regulations set by the EC.

“Our list of candidates has been finalised and there are no changes,” he said.

PKR information chief Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty said he hoped that nomination would proceed smoothly without any untoward incident. 

In KUCHING, Sarawak EC director Takun Sunggah advised candidates to submit their nomination before 10am.

He also said that by the eve of nomination today, the EC office had sold 267 nomination papers to potential candidates.

Meanwhile, the focus will be on the nomination in Lahad Datu in the parliamentary constituency of Silam where militants from the southern Philippines had recently intruded and a government military offensive was launched to check them.

A check by Bernama found the area lively with party flags flying here and there and the people going about their daily activities as usual.

The Dewan Tun Mustapha had been prepared as the nomination centre for the Silam parliamentary seat and the states seats of Tengku, Lahad Datu and Kunak.

Lahad Datu police chief Supt Shamsuddin Mat reminded the people to exercise calm during the nomination process tomorrow.

“I will make sure that the (nomination) process is smooth,” he said when contacted by Bernama .

Seventy-two police officers and men will be deployed during the nomination tomorrow, and 16 members of the Sabah police contingent would also help out, he said.

- Bernama

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