TELUK INTAN, May 18 — The Election Commission cautioned the supporters of candidates contesting the Teluk Intan parliamentary seat to refrain from causing any commotion during the nomination process tomorrow.     

EC secretary Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh also advised supporters to respect the boundaries of the designated nomination centre, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Seri Perak, and be considerate of its students as the school would be operating as usual. 

“We urge supporters not to repeat the Bukit Gelugor scenario where people came in a procession with drums and loud hailers,” he told reporters after surveying the preparations at the nomination centre here today.  

He said the school was selected as an alternative venue due to an earlier wedding reception booking at the Teluk Intan Municipal Council Hall.  

Abdul Ghani said the nomination centre would be opened between 9am and 10am tomorrow, with candidates expected to arrive as early as 8am.         

So far, he said, four forms had been purchased, one each by the Barisan Nasional (BN) and DAP representatives and two possibly by independent candidates. 

He appealed to the BN component party and DAP supporters to remain at the field in front of the school as agreed by all quarters to prevent congestion in the vicinity of the school because it was in a crowded residential area. 

“It rained very heavily today and the field is muddy and water logged. So please don’t accuse anyone of sabotage tomorrow. The contesting parties are the ones who agreed to use the field,” he said.   

On a related note, he said the EC expected an 85 per cent voter turnout for polling day on May 31 as it coincided with the school holidays.  

For that reason, he added, that 420 bottles of indelible ink had been prepared for the day. — Bernama