Close to 50,000 voters may face confusion on polling day for the Sarawak elections as their polling centres have been moved.

Met in Kuching today, Election Commission chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusop said that 48,164 voters will be affected by the move, which is meant to ease the voting process.

“The voters were moved to polling centres nearer to their homes.

NONE“Some of the previous polling centres are also in a state of disrepair, some have even burnt down, so we are doing this so voters can vote in greater comfort,” he said.

To avoid confusion, Abdul Aziz (left) urged voters to check their polling centres before polling day on April 16.

A total of 979,796 people are registered to vote in the state polls.

Meanwhile, the commission has also taken proactive steps to ensure that ballot papers will not be ruined in the event that boxes fall into the river when they are transported to tallying centres on polling day.

“We have fixed floating devices onto boxes for 461 voting streams.

“We were accused of throwing the boxes into the river during the Batang Ai polls and I took this comment to heart, so now even if the boxes fall out of the boats the papers will not be ruined,” he said.

He added that the commission has tested the newly-fitted devices and found that they can withstand “rough waters”.

‘No drums or trumpets allowed’

On a separate matter, Abdul Aziz reminded all parties to behave and not provoke each other on nomination day tomorrow.

He said only 50 supporters from each side are allowed to come close to the nomination centres, and no loudhailers or musical instruments will be allowed.

“No drums or trumpets, but if they want to sing that’s fine,” he said.

The EC will send 80 enforcement teams to patrol the 10-day campaign to ensure that no rules are flouted.

“The enforcement teams will patrol, remove unsuitable campaign materials and stop ceramah which do not have permits or go against their permit conditions,” he said.