Malacca polls: Bersih rues 'overzealous' enforcement of campaign ban

 

MALACCA POLLS | Electoral watchdog Bersih has raised concerns over what it described as "overzealous enforcement actions" taken by police in Malacca for alleged violations of Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) during ongoing campaigns ahead of polling day on Nov 20.

Bersih noted the actions so far comprise heavy fines on political parties and candidates under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (measures within infected local areas) (National Recovery Plan) Regulations 2021 (NRP Regulations).

"The latest incident where an individual in Alor Gajah was slapped with a fine of RM4,000 for holding election campaign by wearing a jacket bearing Pakatan Harapan logo is just ridiculous and overboard.

"This came on the back of another report that the Health Ministry and police 'raided' a Harapan presidential council meeting in Malacca and only backed down when it was shown that party meetings are allowed under the Election Commission's guidelines," Bersih said in a statement.

"It only goes to show that these restrictions and fines are no longer about managing Covid-19 but suppression of the election campaign as a whole.

"Election is not only the act of casting a ballot on the polling day, but it encompasses the entire process of campaigning where candidates and political parties present themselves to the voters for the voters to make an informed choice," said the group.

Democracy suppressed

In the latest incident, Malacca police chief Abd Majid Mohd Ali confirmed that police have issued an RM4,000 compound to a Harapan candidate clad in clothing with the coalition's logo for allegedly campaigning at a local eatery in Alor Gajah on Wednesday.

PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil, who took to social media to protest the fine, confirmed it was issued to Harapan's Machap Jaya candidate Law Binh Haw.

Bersih said such "overzealous actions" have effectively banned the election and suppressed democracy - aside from being in alleged violation of Article 8 and 10 of the Federal Constitution on freedom of assembly and freedom of speech.

Bersih also noted it was in possible contravention of the Election Offences Act 1954, whereby pursuant to Section 24B, candidates "may hold, convene or organise any open public meeting, open public rally, open public display or open public entertainment or give any open public address or open public lecture in the constituency that the candidate is contesting".

All manner of physical gatherings related to the state elections has been banned from being held in the state as part of prevention strategies against a spike in Covid-19 infections.

Clear guidelines

Bersih reiterated its opposition to a blanket ban on face-to-face election campaign, with no clear alternatives provided to all candidates regardless of parties.

With the series of enforcements, Bersih questioned the EC's role to facilitate safe campaigning in Malacca.

"We call for the total ban on physical campaigning be uplifted and clear guidelines that are in compliance with Phase 4 of the NRP be provided in the last week of campaigning," said Bersih.

In the meantime, Bersih urged all parties to take advantage of its Suara Untuk Semua campaign in partnership with Astro Awani, Sinar Harian and Sin Chew Daily, to get TV, printed media, and social media coverage for their campaign.

So far, the blanket ban on election-related to physical gatherings in Malacca has led parties and candidates to move most of their activities online, or resort to holding their physical events outside of the state, for example, a PN ceramah led by Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin and component party leaders at a hotel in Shah Alam, Selangor yesterday.  - Mkini