KUALA LUMPUR: Candidates wishing to contest in the Sandakan Parliamentary by-election have been told to fill their nomination forms and check with the returning officer’s office before this Saturday’s (April 27) nomination day.
Election Commission (EC) chairman Azhar Azizan Harun said in a statement today that they could make preliminary checks at the returning officer’s office either at the Sandakan City Council Office or the Sabah State Election Office.
He said the preliminary check was to ensure that all the candidates filled their forms correctly and met the stipulated conditions and qualifications so as to avoid errors in filling the forms on nomination day.
“This will ensure that the nomination process is carried out smoothly and within the set time frame. This will also give the parties whose candidates are found ineligible during the preliminary checks to make the necessary preparations for nomination day,” he said.
However, Azhar said nomination papers which had been properly filled and checked should be submitted to the returning officer by the candidate or proposer or seconder at the nomination centre on Saturday.
To further expedite the nomination process, he also reminded candidates to pay their electoral security deposits (for the by-election and campaign material) earlier as well as to collect passes for themselves, their proposers and supporters to enter the nomination centre.
The Sandakan seat fell vacant following the death of DAP MP Datuk Stephen Wong Tien Fatt, who was also the Sabah Health and Wellbeing Minister, on March 28.
The Election Commission (EC) fixed nomination on April 27, early voting on May 7 and polling on May 11 for the by-election. – Bernama
