PETALING JAYA: Please adhere to the election laws and maintain public order when campaigning, the Election Commission (EC) reminded all candidates, parties and supporters.
Its chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh said the commission has deployed 252 election enforcement teams for the 15th state elections, comprising six states – Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.
Abdul Ghani said the teams, which consisted of the police, local council authorities and representatives of the candidates, had started their operations yesterday to monitor campaigning activities until Aug 12.
“All candidates and political parties must adhere to the election laws when campaigning and must maintain public order.
“They must refrain from playing with issues or topics that could incite any disorder among the public and ensure the 14-day campaigning period remains smooth until polling day,” he told The Star yesterday.
According to Abdul Ghani, anyone can file a report with the authorities regarding any election-related violations committed by the candidates during the campaign period.
‘“If there are complaints lodged with the commission relating to the election offences, we will hand them over to the relevant authorities in charge for further action,” he said when asked if the monitoring by the EC would include social media posts by candidates that include sensitive topics involving the 3R (race, religion and royalty) issues.
Earlier this month, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain warned that no individuals would be exempted from police investigations if they brought up sensitive issues related to the 3R during the six state elections.
On July 20, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said there were plans to set up a unit to monitor the Kuala Terengganu by-election and state elections to keep tabs on 3R issues.
Fahmi said the unit will be coordinated between his ministry, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), and social media platform providers.
The authorities’ decision to ramp up monitoring of sensitive issues is part of the efforts to prevent public unrest and social disharmony.
On July 18, caretaker Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor claimed trial at the Selayang Sessions Courts on two counts under the Sedition Act over a political speech on July 11.
Muhammad Sanusi was accused of uttering remarks that could incite disloyalty against the Rulers.
As of yesterday, the EC had sold 2,150 nomination papers, including five for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat.
Abdul Ghani also reminded all candidates to check if their forms have been filled out and checked by the relevant officers from the commission before submitting the documents on nomination day at their respective centres.
The EC also reported that 9,773,571 voters, as of June 21, are eligible to cast their ballots in the six state elections on Aug 12.
The figures consist of 9,674,456 normal voters, 49,660 armed forces members and their spouses, 47,728 police force members and their spouses, and 1,727 absent voters based overseas.
Voters can refer to the EC’s official website, the EC Hotline at 03-8892 7018/ 7218/ 7124 or through the mobile application MySPR Check, to find out their polling stations and voting channels.
