Come early for nominations, reminded Election Commission chairperson Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman to all contesting candidates.

He also urged them to stick to all the rules and regulations of the election, specifically telling candidates to stop campaigning activities that disregarded the EC’s code of ethics.

abdul rashid abdul rahman and spr and general election 130208 “You can yell and support your candidates accordingly but don't verbally abuse your opponents," he said.

This morning, a total of 222 nomination centres will remain open from 9am to 10am for candidates to file their nomination papers. A total of 202 parliamentary and 505 state seats are on offer.

The nomination papers can be filed between 9am and 10am. That follows an hour of objection period.

During this objection period, the nomination papers would be placed for scrutiny by candidates, their proposers, seconders and one other person, if any, appointed by each candidate.

A written objection must be submitted to the returning officer between 10am and 11am.

The EC revealed yesterday that a total of 5,051 nomination forms have been issued to potential candidates.

A candidate is required to pay a deposit of RM10,000 to contest a

parliamentary seat and RM5,000 for a state seat upon the filing of their nomination papers.

A seat would be won uncontested if only one nomination paper was accepted by the returning officer after the objection period.

Stamp duty requirement

Candidates accompanied by their supporters have begun gathering at the nomination centres in district offices, schools and local authority offices, some as early as 8am.

The general election this time around will see for the first time the

enforcement of stamp duty requirement for the candidates' statutory declaration although such a requirement has been stated in the law for decades.

At total of 10,922,139 electorates, including 221,085 postal voters, are eligible to vote for their representatives from the various political parties that will later form the federal and state governments.

There are about 600,000 new voters in this general election compared to 10.3 million voters in the last general election in 2004.

A total of 30 political parties are eligible to contest in the general

election.

Prior to dissolution, Barisan Nasional controlled 198 seats, DAP (12 seats), PAS (seven seats) and Independent (one seat). The Parliament has 219 seats

There are three new parliamentary seats in this general election -- namely Igan, Sibuti and Limbang, all in Sarawak - following the redelinenation of the state's electoral boundaries.

The Meteorological Department forecast a fine weather nationwide this morning.

The Election Commission has set 13 days for campaigning, begining today right after the nomination process until 12 midnight on March 7. Polling is on March 8.

[Full report to follow]