JOHOR BARU: Some 28 reports have been lodged so far, including four cases involving 3R (race, religion, and royalty) issues since the first day of campaigning in the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections, says Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat.
The Johor police chief said that most of the cases involved were acts of damaging campaign materials such as party flags, banners and posters.
“Police also received four cases involving 3R, with two of the reports being investigated by Johor and two by Bukit Aman,” he added.
Comm Kamarul Zaman said this when met after visiting an early polling centre at Marine Police Region II headquarters in Tampoi here on Tuesday (Sept 5).
The four cases involved PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang for questioning the Pardons Board authorisation and Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for issuing a “fatwa” saying it was haram (forbidden) to vote for Pakatan Harapan’s Pulai candidate Suhaizan Kayat.
On the early voting process, Comm Kamarul Zaman said the operation was running smoothly at the two early voting centres at Marine Police Region II headquarters and Kempas police station.
A total of 927 police personnel are eligible to cast their votes as early voters for the Pulai Parliamentary by-election.
Pulai is one of two by-elections called in Johor following the death of Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, who was also the domestic trade and cost of living minister, on July 23. The other is for the Simpang Jeram state seat.
However, there will be no early voting for Simpang Jeram.
The EC set polling for both seats on Saturday (Sept 9), after the campaigning period, which began on Aug 26, ends at 11.59pm on Sept 8.
