PUTRAJAYA: The Election Commission (EC) has set May 23 for nominations and May 31 as the polling day for the Penanti by-election.
EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusof made the announcement at a press conference at the EC office here Monday.
He said the commission picked a Saturday for nomination and Sunday for polling due to grouses raised by voters during the recent tri-elections that were held on a weekday.
He also refuted claims that the commission had delayed the announcement to today due to political pressure.
The commission, he said, was informed of the vacancy by the Penang State Speaker and the announcement was well within the 10 days allowed by law.
Abdul Aziz also said that the by-election in Penanti would be the first to see a ban on booths by political parties and activities to fish for voters near polling stations.
He said there were provisions in the existing laws for this but it had not been enforced.
The by-election is the sixth since the March 8 general election last year.
The state seat in Penang fell vacant following the resignation of its assemblyman Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin, 33, on April 16 citing that it was in the best interest of the party.
Fairus had added that he wanted to further his studies and clear his name against allegations of being involved in illegal quarry dealings in Penang.
Earlier on April 8, Fairus had resigned as Deputy Chief Minister 1 following the allegations of corruption.
Although he was later cleared of any wrongdoing by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, he stuck to his decision to resign as Penanti assemblyman.
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