Only PKR flags to fly if Harapan goes with common logo, says EC

GE14 | The yet to be determined campaign period of the 14th general election is set to turn into a ‘battle of the blues’ between BN and Pakatan Harapan.

This is after Election Commission chairperson Mohd Hashim Abdullah indicated that only the contesting party in a seat would be allowed to fly its flags.

"If they (candidates) are contesting on a PKR ticket, then it would be PKR (flags)," he told a press conference at the EC's headquarters in Putrajaya this afternoon.

Hashim said this when pressed to comment on Harapan announcing yesterday that its candidates would be fieldedunder the PKR ticket.

He stressed, however, that the EC's jurisdiction on election offences – including removing flags or other campaign materials – would only take effect after nomination day.

"Once we know who is contesting, which candidates from which political parties, only then will we take action on the parties that are not contesting in the area.

"Take for example Putrajaya, if there are three parties contesting, then we will only allow the three parties to fly its flags.

"The ones not contesting, we won't allow them to do so. It doesn't matter whether they are from the government or opposition," he explained.

While all BN candidates have always entered the elections with their dark blue ‘dacing’ logo, Harapan's attempts to register itself as a formal coalition ahead of GE14 have met with failure.

In retaliation to the temporary dissolution notice slapped on his party Bersatu, Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad last night announced that all candidates would adopt PKR's light blue colours for the polls.

Hashim (photo) also refused to be dragged into commenting on whether Harapan parties would require the EC's 'permission' to contest using the PKR logo.

"I would like to apologise, as so far there has been no confirmation from the parties. As of now it is just talks.

"Maybe tomorrow they can say something else, but I have commented (today) and so my comments may no longer be right (in the future)."

Vetting all logos

On the part of EC, Hashim said their duties would be to vet all registered logos after nomination day.

He also stressed that all new and existing parties or independent candidates would be subjected to the same process, and that approvals are typically given with no issues.

"On the use of a different logo by a party that already has a registered logo, we will wait and see when it becomes a reality, before commenting further," he said.

In GE13, PKR had fielded PSM candidates under its logo without any need for them to become party members.

All that is required for Harapan candidates to use the PKR logo is an authorisation letter from the party signed by a high-ranking leader, typically the party president, or in the case of registered coalitions like BN, by the coalition chairperson. - Mkini