KUALA LUMPUR: Early voting for GE15 nationwide has gone smoothly and systematically, says Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani.

The Inspector-General of Police said election observers told him that the early voting process was among the most efficient compared to previous elections.

“We hope the smooth process will assist those voting today in making a sound decision,” he said after casting his early vote at Bukit Aman yesterday.

The IGP said a total of 118,815 police personnel and their spouses were involved in early voting and postal voting yesterday.

“For early voting, 113,625 individuals were involved, while postal votes involved 5,190 people.

“In Bukit Aman alone, there were 6,423 early voters and 1,511 postal voters,” he said.

Acryl Sani advised police personnel, officers and their spouses to cast their early vote to fulfil their responsibility in voting.

“Their actions will determine the leaders who will form the next government. I believe all officers and personnel have sufficient knowledge and preferences to decide who to vote for,” he said.

Among others at the early voting centre in Bukit Aman were Bukit Aman Narcotic Crimes Investigation Department director Comm Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay and Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department director Comm Datuk Seri Hazani Ghazali.

Besides the early voting centre in Bukit Aman, the country’s top cop also monitored the situation at other early voting centres, including the Cheras district police headquarters.

On another matter, Acryl Sani said Bukit Aman was ready for a huge surge of vehicles on the road this coming weekend as many were expected to travel to their hometowns to cast their vote on Saturday.

He said police, specifically the Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT), would be deployed to ensure the safety of all road users and smooth traffic nationwide.

“We believe most will start their travels as early as Thursday, as Friday and Saturday have been declared as public holidays.

“Sufficient JSPT officers and personnel will be deployed nationwide,” he said.

The IGP urged all road users and voters who intend to go back to their hometowns to plan their travels accordingly.

“All road users must abide by all traffic rules and regulations so that accidents and congestion caused by road mishaps can be prevented,” he said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced two days of public holiday and toll-free use of highways await Malaysians returning to their hometowns to exercise their right as voters on Saturday.

He said Friday and Saturday had been declared public holidays in conjunction with GE15.