TG PIAI POLLS | Newly announced campaigning rules - which include notifying the police of door-to-door campaigning rounds and banning loud hailers on moving vehicles - were "too extreme", said Umno supreme council member Mahdzir Khalid.
"Let's say I happen to have some free time and I want to cover an additional six houses (on an impromptu basis). What then?
"Do I have to let the police know? Do I have to seek permission? This is too strict and doesn't make sense," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.
Mahdzir (above) said political parties - including those in Pakatan Harapan - typically will make impromptu house visits to "say hello" and canvass for votes.
Meanwhile, parliamentary opposition leader Ismail Sabri Yaakob (below) said normally, the Election Commission will discuss new rules with parties, but it did not happen this time around.
"I don't even know what law they are applying (in this instance). (One new rule is that) if the vehicle is moving, it must come to a halt before campaigning can begin. It was never like that before.
"I don't know what happened to the EC. They should be independent and not be controlled by the federal government," he said.
Yesterday, the new rules were devised following a meeting between the EC and the Pontian district police over the ongoing Tanjung Piai by-election.
In a statement today, EC chairperson Azhar Azizan Harun said the police must be notified of "walkabout" programmes - which would cover house visits.
The police also want to be notified of the use of vehicles adorned with campaign materials such as flags and loudhailers. - Mkini
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