ALOR GAJAH, Oct 18 — The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the Election Commission (EC) have conducted internet connectivity checks at polling centres to test the Optical Character Recognition-Voter Attendance (OCR-VA) system ahead of the Melaka state election, which will take place next month.
State Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Communications Committee chairman Datuk Fairul Nizam Roslan said one polling centre, Dewan Penyayang at the Lesung Batu Welfare Complex, was found to be unsuitable for the OCR-VA system due to unsatisfactory internet connectivity.
“As such, the polling centre will be relocated to the Machap Baru State Constituency Development and Coordination Committee (Japerun) Complex,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after the launch of the Barisan Nasional (BN) election machinery for the Alor Gajah parliamentary constituency at Dewan Kampung Permai in Machap Umboo here today. The event was officiated by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.
Fairul Nizam said MCMC had also submitted a full report to the EC on internet connectivity at the polling centres to facilitate arrangements on election day.
“I am confident that the EC is fully prepared to use the system on polling day, with assistance from the MCMC,” he said.
It was earlier reported that the OCR-VA system would be used more extensively in the upcoming Melaka state election to automatically record and mark voters’ attendance by scanning information on their identification documents.
The system is expected to expedite attendance verification and recording, reduce errors in manual marking, and improve the efficiency of polling staff and the voting process on election day.
A pilot project for the system was introduced during the Negeri Sembilan state election in August this year.
The EC has set Nov 14 as polling day for the Melaka state election, with nomination day on Oct 31 and early voting on Nov 10. — Bernama