The parliamentary election advisory committee has recommended to the Election Commission (EC) that the voting time for the March 17 parliamentary elections should be fixed from 0900hrs to 1700hrs.

Speaking at the committee's meeting today, EC Vice President Ismail Habib said that the commission has decided to conduct voting on the same day from morning to 1700hrs. The elections will be held during the month of Ramadan and the offices will open at 10 am. However, since it is the month of fasting, the idea is to extend the time to give time to break the fast in the parliamentary elections and to count the votes at 1845hrs after Iftar, he said.

Habib, however, said the EC will take a call only after examining the committee's view on the issue.

Democratic Vice President Mohamed Shifaz said he was in favour of voting from 0900hrs to 1700hrs, but added that the voting time should not be extended in a way that the EC would do in other elections, as seen only by the commission.

PNC vice-president Ibrahim Sujau, who is part of the ruling PPM/PNC, said it would be better if voting started at 0900hts and end at 1800hrs, but he also pointed out that it was a matter of concern that the EC changed the voting timings without consulting the committee.

Vice-President and Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam said that the way people behave during Ramadan will be different from other months, so he also said that he supports holding the voting from 0900hrs to 1700hrs.

The Adhaalath Party, HRCM, ACC and others on the committee said it would be better to go ahead with the voting at that time as well.

According to the police, it is important to determine the voting time based on the time when people are able to break their fast, especially during the fasting hours.