The Election Commission had opened 586 polling centres at 10am.
Members of the security forces, comprising the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) and General Operations Force (PGA) as well as their spouses were seen gathering early at the polling centres before the voting process started at 8 am.
In the federal capital, army chief Zulkiple Kassim voted at Sungai Besi cantonment, while the Inspector-General of Police, Mohamad Fuzi Harun, his predecessor Khalid Abu Bakar, and Deputy IGP Noor Rashid Ibrahim cast their ballots at Bukit Aman.
Among the early voting centres opened in the federal capital were the Sports Complex, Tuanku Mizan Military Hospital; Sungai Besi camp and SK Kementah in Jalan Padang Tembak.
Among the early voters were 823 members of the police force here including those who had recently retired.
Early voting is conducted at contingent police headquarters, district police headquarters and army camps by 6,376 election workers, and witnessed by agents of the candidates.
The polling centres will be closed in stages between 5pm and 7pm; some centres will close earlier between 1pm and 3pm.
The votes are not counted today and the ballot boxes will be kept at police station lockups until polling day on May 9 when a total of 14.94 million voters are expected to cast their ballots.
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