The Election Commission (EC) has set March 6 as polling day for the Merlimau by-election, a state constituency in Malacca.

The seat fell vacant following the death of state assemblyperson Mohamad Hidhir Abu Hasan, who suffered from a second heart attack and was placed on life-support system on Jan 20.

His death triggered the country’s 15th by-election since the March 2008 general election. Mohamad Hidhir was 54.

EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof announced that EC has decided on Feb 26 for nominations and March 6 for polling with eight days for campaigning.

azlanThe electoral roll to be used for the by-election is the master voters register 2009 for the constituency which had been updated up to Jan 20, 2011.

The voter register contains 10,679 registered voters comprising 10,643 ordinary voters and 36 postal voters.

Abdul Aziz said the nomination centre as well as the vote tallying centre for the Merlimau by-election would be the Dewan Platinum Politeknik Merlimau.

“Seven schools will be used as polling centres with a total of 21 voting streams. A total of 248 election workers will be appointed to handle the by-election which is estimated to require a total budget of RM830,000,” he said.

Mohamad Hidhir was in charge of rural and agricultural development in the Malacca state executive council.

Merlimau is one of five state seats under the Jasin parliamentary constituency, the others being Sungai Rambai, Serkam, Bemban and Rim.

In the 2008 general election, Mohamad Hidhir bagged the Merlimau state seat, beating PAS candidate Jasme Tompang with a majority of 2,154 votes.

Prior to that in 2004, Mohamad Hidhir won the seat by a majority of 5,087 votes.