KUCHING: It was with pride that Sjn Nazuin Naim, 40, donned his military uniform and headed out to cast his early ballot. He savoured the bittersweet moment as he was going on optional retirement.

       Nazuin was one of the 1,361 early voters consisting of army personnel and their spouses at the Rascom Camp, Ninth Brigade headquarters in Miri yesterday.

       “This is like creating history because this state election is taking place under a new normal. I’m glad that things are proceeding smoothly,” he said.

       Nazuin is a voter in the Nangka seat which sees a three-cornered fight between Dr Annuar Rapa’ee from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Parti Bumi Kenyalang’s (PBK) Olivia Lim and Parti Sarawak Bersatu’s (PSB) Intanurazean Wan Sapuan Daud.

       For 35-year-old policewoman Lynne Gingu Law, it was her first experience casting her ballot as a mother.

       Turning up at the state police contingent headquarters in Kuching, she brought along her one-year-old daughter Fatimah Sopiah Kamafarkhan.

       “It is not an ordinary day. I used to vote alone but now, my daughter is with me. I feel happy fulfilling my voting responsibility,” said Lynne when met outside the voting centre.

       Early voting took place smoothly at the police headquarters with the strict enforcement of standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place.

       State police commissioner Datuk Aidi Ismail said police were closely monitoring the election campaign and so far, 10 compounds amounting to RM35,000 have been issued.

       He reminded candidates to abide by the strict SOPs to keep Covid-19 at bay.

       “Compounds will be issued against anyone found to be flouting the SOPs,” he warned.

       Meanwhile, voting involving soldiers at the Muara Tuang camp in Kota Samarahan also went smoothly.

       Dozens of press members were out early in the morning. Military officers, along with their spouses, were also seen lining up to cast their early ballots.

       Election Commission personnel were also seen monitoring the voting process while Health Ministry officers were also present to ensure SOP adherence.

       Present at the Muara Tuang camp was Chief of Army Jen Tan Sri Zamrose Mohd Zain and his wife, Commander of the Army Eastern Field Command Datuk Mardzuki Muhammad and his wife, and Maj-Jen Datuk Dzulkafli Mustaffa and his wife.

       “The early voting process took place smoothly with strict adherence to the SOP such as face-mask wearing, distancing and using of hand sanitisers.

       “Voters were also told to come in stages to avoid overcrowding at the voting centre,” said an official of the First Infantry Division.

       The EC’s Stakan returning officer Muhammad Nizam Nang said there was strict compliance with the SOP.

       “Temperature scans and MySejahtera check-ins were done,” he added.

       There are 2,331 early voters in the Muara Tuang Camp, which was part of the 4,848 early votes cast for the Stakan state seat which is seeing a four-cornered fight between GPS’ Datuk Hamzah Brahim, DAP’s Leslie Ting, PSB’s George Young Ricord Jr, and PBK’s Atet Dego.

       There are 12,585 registered early voters for the 12th Sarawak polls.