The voting of Malaysia's 12th general election started as scheduled nationwide in the country early Saturday as polling stations opened their gates for voters.
First voters have been seen entering some of the polling stations here, mostly set up in primary and middle schools, after election workers opened their gates at 8 a.m. (0000 GMT) on the holiday.
Malaysian voters see a total of 7,950 voting centers with 21,822 voting stations nationwide this year.
At a polling station set up in a national secondary school in Petalling Jaya near here, about a dozen of voters have been seen entering the polling station within some 20 minutes after it opened.
Voters were also seen entering polling stations in the country's northern states of Penang and Terenggaru.
At a polling station established within a national secondary school in Kepala Batas, the state of Penang, people are waiting outside for the arrival of Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who will cast his ballot there.
Police have imposed tight security measures there.
Malaysian Election Commission (EC) secretary Kamaruzaman Mohd Noor said late Friday that the first result in Saturday's general election could be expected early due to its preparedness and the use of improved information and communications technology infrastructure.
The winner of a simple majority was expected to be announced around 10:30 p.m. (1430 GMT) on the day.
Kamaruzaman noted that the results of the election would be announced at a faster rate this time.
Kamaruzaman also said that contingency plans had been prepared for any untoward incidents or natural disasters, including deferring the election to Sunday or in the case of floods, stopping the voting process temporarily until the situation returned to normal.
Source: Xinhua
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