MALACCA POLLS | A week after authorities raided Pakatan Harapan's event in Malacca and scrutinised its Covid-19 standard operating procedure (SOP) compliance, the coalition leaders seemed to continue being gripped by fear of getting fined.
Following the Nov 10 incident, top Harapan politicians have applied a self-imposed gag order on themselves and refuse to give any comments to reporters when approached during their visits to constituencies.
Journalists covering the election campaign period also found it difficult to get campaign programme schedules from the Harapan side.
The self-imposed gag was obvious today when Harapan top leaders - PKR chief Anwar Ibrahim, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu - went to Bemban where they accompanied DAP candidate Tey Kok Kiew for tea time and a walkabout.
"Don't ask me anything, or else I would have to pay RM4,000 (fine)," Anwar told reporters when asked for comments on Harapan's chance in defending the Bemban seat from BN and Perikatan Nasional.
"If you want to pay for me then it's okay," the opposition chief added while he walked in a hurry towards his waiting car.
Under Covid-19 SOP for the election, authorities have barred on-the-spot interviews during the campaign period. Despite the rule, many political leaders and candidates across parties have engaged in spontaneous interviews since the nomination day on Nov 8.
Anwar had given the same reason when he was met by reporters on Nov 13 after accompanying the Harapan candidate for Rim while campaigning at a warung.
"No PC (press conference) outside (proper location)," he said.
Lim even gave an amusing excuse when approached at the same event.
Caught in a corner by journalists eager to interview him, Lim pretended that he was at the warung only to use the restroom.
"I only came here to find a toilet," he quipped.
Mohamad also declined to speak to the press.
Malaysiakini learned from sources in Harapan that the raid had led to an instruction from its top leadership to not inform the media of their programmes, especially those that involve party leaders.
Previously, Harapan accused the Health Ministry and the police of wrongfully "raiding" its presidential council meeting at a hotel on Nov 10.
According to PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil, the raiding party arrived at the La Crista Hotel in Malacca and barged into the meeting while taking pictures of the participants.
PKR Youth chief Akmal Nasir had also claimed that Harapan may be the victim of sabotage after the coalition was repeatedly issued compounds for alleged SOP violations. - Mkini
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