Police permit for walkabouts – know the electoral laws

I refer to the uproar over PDRM's instruction for a police permit for walkabouts. I believe the Election Commission (EC) chief and his deputy are two of our more learned members of the legal profession. Woe betide to the unlettered politician in trying to raise the cudgels to the dynamic duo and team.

I would take a leaf from the EC chief's repartee in recent days for politicians, activists and civil society to learn the electoral laws and regulations upfront, and all grey areas around and in between these laws inciting interpretation, the cross references of the myriad electoral laws to other laws, including the Police Act.

The opposition perhaps recollect a time in their recent past where perhaps one can suppose that the government's apparatus may have been used to thwart a growing and robust civil society movement for free and fair elections.

I would implore that we do not sit on our laurels and remain vigilant of the electoral bodies involved in running elections including the EC, to which I think the EC would welcome.

Reading the news, one wonders why the political parties have not met with the EC to understand whatever measures have been taken by the EC and other executive bodies in the running of the Tanjung Piai by-election.

I think this appears a practical strategy and all issues would be ironed out. I think this would accord respect all around. I hope to see us develop and strengthen our democratic processes in incremental changes.  - Mkini