The locations of the polling centres which were quite a distance from Kampung Ulu Pulai for the Tanjung Piai by-election are in accordance with the recommendation of the redelineation for the states of Malaya, approved in parliament on March 28, last year.

“With the announcement of the new electoral boundaries, there are several areas of the existing electorate that have changed according to the recommendations,” the Election Commission (EC) said in a statement here today.

According to EC, in the 13th General Election, Kampung Ulu Pulai was located in the Kampong Pulai voting district, under Nusa Jaya and Gelang Patah state and parliamentary constituencies respectively, while the polling centre was at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Pulai.

Based on the new delineation, Kampung Ulu Pulai has shifted to Bandar Pekan Nenas Selatan district polling centres in the Pekan Nanas state assembly constituency in the Tanjung Piai Parliamentary Constituency.

The polling centre is in Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Yu Ming 1 in the 14th General Election.

“The change is implemented after taking into account the boundaries of the Pontian and Johor Bahru district respectively,” EC said.

Recently, a television station reported that Tanjung Piai residents want the issues concerning the distant polling centres, up to 10 kilometres, to be resolved before the by-election.

The Tanjung Piai by-election will be held on Nov 16, while the nomination day is set for Nov 2.

It is held following the death of incumbent Dr Md Farid Md Rafik, 42, who was also Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, on Sept 21, due to heart complications.

- Bernama