PKR: Cops and EC not seeing eye-to-eye on Sosma

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail claims that the police and the Election Commission (EC) has issued contradicting statements on whether the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) would be used to ensure security in the upcoming elections. 

Saifuddin (left), who is also the incumbent Machang MP, added that the EC had clearly stated in its meeting notes with the party that Sosma does not apply to elections.

Instead, the EC said election campaigns are subject only to the Election Offences Act 1994.

“I refer to the summary notes of the meeting between the EC and political parties. The EC’s response to a question regarding the applicability of the Peaceful Assembly Act to election campaigns was that all forms of campaigning are subject to the Election Offences Act, whereas Sosma does not apply.

“This is a clear distinction, not only of the time period, but at the very least the EC has given a very clear confirmation.

“Therefore, the EC should also step forward and issue a response to what this police officer has claimed,” he said in a press conference at PKR’s headquarters today.

However, he did not specify the date of when the meeting had  allegedly taken place.

'Sosma affects electoral process'

Saifuddin was responding to Bukit Aman's Legal and Prosecution Division principle assistant director Razali Basri’s statement, which was reported by national news agency Bernama yesterday.

The report quotes Razali as saying that those caught causing a commotion or posing a security threat throughout the campaign period can be investigated under Sosma and charged under the Penal Code.

Meanwhile, the party's Subang MP and lawyer R Sivarasa (right) had told the same press conference that Razali's statement shows that there is a conflict between the police and the EC.

"Using Sosma during the campaign period would only affect the integrity of the electoral process,” he stressed.

"We urge the police to stop making such statements. They must remember that the body or institution that is in charge during an election is not the police, but the EC.

"The police should respect the Election Offences Act that will take effect," he said.