The Lahad Datu intrusion has not affected preparations for the 13th general election, Election Commission deputy chairperson Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said today.

In fact, preparations were in full swing because the EC has full confidence in the security forces in resolving the conflict.

"The election will be held as planned and we are making the preparations regardless of whatever scenario," he said in Putrajaya.

The Filipino armed intruders incident in Sabah since Feb 9 has claimed the lives of eight policemen and 15 of the intruders to date in Lahad Datu and six in Semporna.

Wan Ahmad said the EC was holding briefing sessions for its personnel and election workers locally and abroad, and would brief party leaders on the election process soon.

The latest electoral roll until Dec 31 last year, which was gazetted by the EC in February, has 13.29 million registered voters.

On overseas voters, to date, 4,423 Form 1B applications have been received by mail from Malaysians abroad, with the highest applicants from Australia at 868, followed by the United Kingdom (634), China (341), the United States (259) as well from Qatar, New Zealand, Egypt and Japan.

- Bernama


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