Even EC may face problems if elections held during monsoon, says ex-EC man
Former Election Commission deputy chairman Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Wan Omar says the EC has a standard operating procedure (SOP) to deal with the possibility of flooding in polling areas.
SHAH ALAM - The general election (GE) should not be held during the monsoon season when many areas in the country are expected to face floods.
Former Election Commission deputy chairman Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said the move to hold elections during floods may not only cause problems for the voters but for the commission ensuring the elections run smoothly.
"If there is a big flood and hours of rain like the monsoon season in Terengganu, Kelantan, Pahang, Sarawak and Johor, we already know that voters will not be able to go out to vote. It will be difficult for EC to send out officers to the polling stations.
"So, why do we do things that we know will damage the process of elections," he told Sinar Harian.
Wan Ahmad said if Parliament is dissolved this year, the EC is expected to have a shorter time to prepare for the elections as it needs to take into account the monsoon season expected to start in December this year.
He added the earliest that the EC can hold an election is one month after the date of dissolution of Parliament which includes the campaign period until voting day.
He added that the EC also has a standard operating procedure (SOP) to deal with the possibility of flooding in polling areas.
"For example, if the school building for the polling station is flooded and voters cannot come in to vote, the EC has the power to postpone voting in the polling station," he said.
