At the SJKC Pei Eng polling centre in Jerai, Kedah, voters said EC officers told them to surrender their phones before casting their ballots.

The rule was also strictly enforced at SMK Convent Sentul in Kuala Lumpur as well as SJKC Selayang Baru and the Dewan Orang Ramai Taman Dato Ahmad Razali in Selangor, according to voters and EC workers.

However, at SK Puncak Alam 2 in Kuala Selangor, voters said the rule was not enforced there.

While there was a box for voters to place their phones in, they said, EC officers did not instruct voters to do so.

Similarly, a voter at SK Seksyen 9 Kota Damansara said he did not have to surrender his phone. He said nothing was mentioned by EC officers, and that he had his phone with him when casting his ballot.

At the SMK St Michael polling centre in Penampang, Sabah, voters said they were merely reminded not to take photos of their ballot papers.

They said they did not have to surrender their phones.

Earlier today, Muda’s Tanjung Piai candidate, Lim Wei Jiet, claimed the EC’s ban on mobile phones at voting booths was not being enforced. He said this rule was crucial to prevent inducements as voters cast their ballots.

FMT has reached out to the EC for comment.

On Monday, the EC said mobile phones were not allowed in voting areas, with voters required to place their devices in stipulated places after receiving their ballot papers.

It said this would prevent inducements for people, as certain parties claimed some voters would have to show proof that they voted for a certain party, by taking a photo of their ballot paper, in order to be rewarded.