Cops: 11 electoral offences reported during Sandakan campaign

KOTA KINABALU: Police received 11 reports on various election offences throughout the Sandakan by-election campaign period, says Sabah police commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah.

Comm Omar said police have opened investigation papers on five of these reports, which were lodged between Nomination Day on April 27 until now.

The other six cases were determined as not having criminal elements and did not require further action from the police.

One investigation paper was opened under Section 24B(3) of the Election Offences Act 1954 for campaigning without a valid permit.

Two cases, which saw campaign banners vandalised, were classified under Section 426 of the Penal Code for committing mischief.

One case was investigated under Section 427 of the same code for committing mischief and causing damage to the amount of RM25 and upwards.

The last case was classified under Section 504 for intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.

Comm Omar added that the situation in Sandakan leading up to the polls on Saturday (May 11) was peaceful and under control.

“We hope candidates and party representatives will not create provocations that will cause chaos or disrupt public order in Sandakan.

“We also advise members of the public not to be influenced by slander, if there is any,” he told a press conference at the Sabah police headquarters here on Wednesday (May 8).

Comm Omar said 1,000 police officers will be on duty on Polling Day and will be deployed to guard the various voting streams and the tallying centre, as well as prevent untoward incidents.

The Sandakan by-election was called after the sudden death of former MP and Sabah DAP chairman Datuk Stephen Wong Tien Fatt on March 28.

Wong's youngest daughter Vivian, 30, who is also from DAP, would be squaring off against Parti Bersatu Sabah's Linda Tsen in a five-cornered fight.

Others in the race as independents are former Sabah PAS and former Sabah Parti Amanah Negara chairman Hamzah Abdullah, 65; businessman Chia Siew Yung, 45; and former political worker Sulaiman Abdul Samat, 36. - Star