Campaign messages have been spotted posted online on the social media accounts of two Sarawak BN candidates, despite election rules prohibiting campaigning on polling day.
Marudi BN candidate Penguang Manggil's Facebook page published a poster urging voters to vote for him.
The poster also urged voters to vote early and not to forget their identity cards.
Meanwhile, Batu Kawah BN candidate Sim Kui Han's official Facebook page also had a post urging voters to vote for the ruling coalition.
"Please vote early. Exercise you democratic right - once every five years. Please don't let anything or anyone stopping you from voting.
“Please vote for BN. #TeamAdenan. #UnitedWeCanBee," read the post.
It is not known how much control Penguang and Sim have over their Facebook pages.
And at least one of the posts has apparently been removed as at press time.
When contacted, Pemantau chief and Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah told Malaysiakini that online campaigning is as much an offence as campaigning offline.
"Online campaigning is the same as offline campaigning," she said.
She explained an election petition can be filed against those who are campaigning online in accordance with Section 32(b) of the Election Offences Act, for breach of election rules.
"But the law is such that you have to prove that campaigning online had unfairly influenced voters, which is very difficult to do.
"By right they should be disqualified, but that's just how it is," she said.
EC to wait after counting
Asked about the matter by Malaysiakini when met in Satok, Kuching, Election Commission chairperson Mohd Hashim Abdullah explained that for campaigning during the prohibited period on polling day, it depends on whether the campaign had managed to sway voters.
However, he said he will wait until after vote counting finishes today to address the matter and will reserve his comments until then.
Sarawakians go to the polls today after two weeks of intense campaigning. According to election rules, all campaigning must stop by last night 12am. -Mkini
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