THE Election Commission (EC) has set July 6 as polling day for the Sungai Bakap state by-election in Penang, and June 22 for nominations.

EC deputy chairman Dr Azmi Sharom announced this after chairing the EC special meeting at Menara SPR in Putrajaya on Thursday.

Azmi said the electoral roll to be used for the by-election was updated as of May 24, Bernama reported.

“Sungai Bakap has 39,279 voters, consisting of 39,222 regular voters and 57 police officers,” he said.

Azmi added that the by-election was expected to cost RM2.1mil, with 522 election workers to be appointed.

The by-election will have nine regular polling centres with 65 polling streams, and one early voting centre.

The nomination process and official vote tallying centre will be at the Jawi Multipurpose Hall in Taman Desa Jawi, Penang.

On May 27, Penang state legislative assembly Speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang had notified the EC on the vacancy of the seat following the death of assemblyman Nor Zamri Latiff.

Nor Zamri, 56, died on May 24 while receiving treatment at the intensive care unit of Hospital Seberang Jaya due to inflammation in the stomach.

The Nibong Tebal PAS chief secured 15,433 votes in the August 2023 state election, defeating Pakatan Harapan’s Nurhidayah Che Rose by a 1,563-vote majority.

Azmi said the campaign period was set for 14 days, starting from nomination day on June 22 until 11.59pm on July 5.

“Two enforcement teams have been set up to monitor campaign activities throughout the campaign period,” he said.

He added that the teams would comprise police personnel as well as representatives from the local authority and contesting candidates.

Azmi said the application process for all categories of postal votes, both domestic and overseas, for the by-election would be open online starting yesterday.

The closing date for applications is June 20 for Category 1A (election staff, SPR members/officers, police, military and media personnel), and June 13 for Category 1B (Malaysian citizens residing abroad) and Category 1C (agencies/organisations).

The EC also invites any government agency, non-governmental organisations, or interested parties to become election observers to monitor the by-election process from nomination day until the election results are announced.

“They are allowed to observe the process at the nomination centre, polling centres and vote counting and tallying centre, but must comply with all conditions set by the EC,” said Azmi.

To check information on polling centres and voter numbers, voters are advised to visit the portal at https://mysprsemak.spr.gov.my, use the MySPR Semak app, or contact the SPR hotline at 03-8892 7018/7218/7124, which will be open from June 18.