PETALING JAYA: The Barisan Nasional election machinery has revved up with a dry run for the general election.

Most divisions have completed their dry run while others will be doing so over the next few days.

Umno information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa said the dry run had gone smoothly.

“It was very good. All systems are set (to go).

“We have identified some weakness and they will be rectified,” he told The Star.

MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said he was happy with his party members’ participation in the exercise.

“MCA is participating very actively in all the dry runs in all the constituencies,” he said at a Felda event in Bentong yesterday.

Liow, who is also Bentong MP, said the dry run in his constituency would be held today.

“Our machinery is ready and they are doing their preparations to ensure it is tip-top and effective in bringing voters out to vote,” he said.

In Kuantan, Liow’s special assistant Datuk Andrew Wong said Barisan is all set for the dry run there today.

“If there are any problems, we will fix them and be ready for the actual polling day,” he said when contacted.

Pahang Umno Youth chief Mohd Shahar Abdullah said they had completed the exercise for Paya Besar earlier.

According to a source, each of the 14 Barisan divisions in the state held their one-day dry run separately, beginning with Cameron Highlands on March 10.

In Klang, the dry run in Selangor went very well with volunteers and campaign workers turning up in full force.

Selangor Barisan chief Tan Sri Noh Omar’s political secretary Datuk Faizal Abdullah said this was a sign that their staff were prepared to handle the polls.

“We launched a simulation exercise and created scenarios which party workers had to handle,” he said.

Faizal, who is also the Kapar Umno chief, said the three state constituencies under the Kapar parliamentary seat – Meru, Sementa and Selat Kelang – saw 800 to 1,000 party workers and volunteers turning up at each constituency.

He said there were only minor issues, such as some of them not fully understanding the procedures.

He said the party workers were also shown the forms that must be filled as well as documents that voters need to bring with them to the polling stations.

In George Town, Penang Barisan chairman Teng Chang Yeow said they have carried out the trials in several stages for all component party members.

Permatang Pauh Umno chief Datuk Mohd Zaid Mohd Said said the dry run in Permatang Ara, which is one out of the 28 district polling centres, will take place today.

“We will ‘test’ taking voters to the polling centre. We also will test the IT system so that accurate information can be channelled to our war room on time,” he said.

In Ipoh, Perak Umno working secretary Datuk Mohd Salleh Mat Disa said the dry run had been conducted in most of the districts last week.

Mohd Salleh said there were only a handful of districts left that had yet to do so such as Batu Gajah and Padang Renggas.

In Kuala Terengganu, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman said the state Barisan machinery was fully prepared.

“We are just waiting for Parliament to be dissolved. Everyone is enthusiastic,” he said.

Dungun Umno chief Datuk Din Adam said he was proud of the enthusiasm shown by party members.

“The dry run was to help them understand the system. They are raring to go,” he said.

In Kota Baru, a dry run was held to prepare Barisan’s polling and counting agents as part of an ongoing stimulation exercise, said Kelantan Umno secretary Datuk Hanafi Mamat.

“All will be included in the exercise to make sure the machinery runs smoothly,” he said.

-The Star-