Bersih to look into PKR ‘campaigning’ in school

SG KANDIS POLLS | Bersih will look into an event featuring Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni, the Pakatan Harapan candidate for the Sungai Kandis by-election, that was a held at a school yesterday.

"We will look into it," acting Bersih chairperson Shahrul Aman Mohd Saari told Malaysiakini.

Though it is unclear if campaigning in schools is specifically disallowed, Shahrul stressed that it does not accord to “caretaker government convention.”

“The same principle should be applied in the by-election," he said.

Photos shared by Zawawi's media team showed the candidate and others on stage at SK Jalan Kebun to launch a fun run event for schoolchildren.

Zawawi is seen wearing a PKR hat, while another man on stage is wearing a party shirt with the word 'Keadilan' on it.

It is unclear, however, if Zawawi or any of the individuals present at the event made campaign speeches or canvassed for votes.

"Some elements of subjectivity as to whether there was campaigning. It would be very clear if the candidate declared 'Undilah saya' (vote for me).

"(However, wearing a) party cap and shirt should be avoided though, as it can be perceived to be campaigning, and people know he is the candidate," Shahrul said.

The acting Bersih chief also cited Section 24B(7) of the Election Offences Act 1954, which states that campaign material cannot be displayed within 50m of any polling station during the campaign period. 

SK Jalan Kebun, where the event was held, is a polling station.

Offences under Section 24B(7) can result in jail of up to one year, a RM3,000 fine, or both.

Besides Zawawi's PKR hat, t-shirts in the party's shade of blue bearing a ‘Community Fun Run 2018’ logo were distributed to the children taking part in the event.

In a video provided to the media, Zawawi said the run was meant to foster better ties between the school, parents, and the students.

PKR and other Pakatan Harapan component parties had often criticised BN in the past for campaigning in schools when they were unable to. - Mkini