Proposed new polling centres in Mulu to shorten travel to cast ballots, says rep

MIRI (Feb 2): The planned addition of two new polling centres at Ba Medamud and Long Balau under the Mulu state constituency is crucial to ensure voters in these areas no longer have to travel long distances to fulfil their civic duty, said Datuk Gerawat Gala.

The Ba Kelalan assemblyman said previously, voters in and around Ba Medamud, Pa Tik A, Pa Tik B, and Long Lobang had to cast their ballot papers in Bario, a journey that required up to a full day of travel on foot.

Similarly, he said the majority of residents in Long Balau, Long Menging, Ba Tepen, Ba Tarum, Long Seliang, and Ba Ubung had to vote in Long Seridan, which also required a long journey by four-wheel-drive vehicle or on foot.

“This situation undoubtedly made it difficult for them to turn out to vote and resulted in a lower voter turnout compared with the number of registered voters,” he said in a statement.

The statement was issued following site visits by Gerawat, who is a deputy minister in the Premier’s Department, to the proposed new polling centres on Saturday.

The visit was carried out to assess the suitability of the proposed locations and the facilities required to ensure the voting process for local residents can be conducted in a more orderly, comfortable, and accessible manner.

With Gerawat during the visit was Election Commission Baram parliamentary constituency liaison officer Stephanie Tredo.