The Election Commission today announced March 21 as polling day and March 13 as nomination day for candidates, making the campaign period for the 11th general election the shortest in Malaysian history.

At eight days, it will be one day shorter than the 1999 general election (nine days), and two days shorter than the 1995 general election (10 days).

EC chairperson Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman, who made the announcement this morning, dismissed the idea that a short campaign period was unfair to opposition parties.

"I don't know whether this is shortest or the longest. We don't take that into account."

He said the dates were decided after considering the commission's capacity to run the elections, the preparation time given to security forces to control public safety, and the need to form a new government quick enough so that much of the work put on hold throughout the campaign period could be resumed.

'To ensure peace'

"We look at our own ability and readiness to run the elections. We do no want to cause a strain on the staff and security forces," said Abdul Rashid.

The short campaign period, he added, is to "ensure that there are no uncertainties that could threaten the safety of the people."

"At the moment, it is a very peaceful period, (but) nations should not have to wait too long for a new government. There are a lot of things to do, including reviving the economy and to resume development."

Polling date, which falls on Sunday, will clash with the Kuala Lumpur leg of the Formula One race - a widely televised sporting event and pet project of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

But Abdul Rashid said such events are not the sort of needs the commission feels it should take into consideration.

"Never mind all these activities. They can always vote in the morning and go watch (Formula One) later. This is more important for us," said the chairperson.

800,000 new voters

The 10th parliament dissolved on Thursday, nine months ahead of its five-year term expiration.

Election campaign officially kicks off on nomination day, which is a Saturday, and ends at midnight on the eve of polling day.

Abdul Rashid said that 27 political parties would be contesting the coming polls.

Nomination papers will have to be submitted between 9am and 10am, and objections are to be received between 9am to 11am the same day.

A total of 10.3 million voters will be eligible to vote for 219 parliament and 505 state seats.

Of these, approximately 800,000 individuals are first-time voters, the commission announced today.

Postal votes, totalling 200,712 this year, will be made available one day after nomination, or March 14.

Votes can be cast at some 7,500 polling stations - including 6,000 schools - between 8 am to 5 pm on Sunday, and the results can be expected at around midnight.

About 170,000 commission workers have been tasked to ensure the success of the electoral process.

Sarawak state seats will not be up for contest this year - its last elections was in September 2001.