Sarawak opposition: Permits, ceramah time limits a bane for us, but not GPS

 

SARAWAK POLLS | Some opposition candidates are finding that strict campaign rules are putting them at a disadvantage compared to their counterparts who are in the incumbent government.

According to the Election Commission (EC) rules, ceramah or political talks are allowed only in 64 of the 82 constituencies identified as having “low 4G coverage”.

These ceramah require a police permit and are only allowed in community halls, not in public or open spaces.

Organisers must also abide by time limits, caps on audience attendance, and be subjected to pre-event Covid-19 tests.

Among the areas where a ceramah is allowed is the Tasik Biru constituency, south of Kuching. This contest is between two-term incumbent Henry Harry Jinep (GPS-PDP), Granda Aing (Harapan-DAP), Tiki Lafe (PSB) and Paul Shanon Kenbell (PBK).

Granda told Malaysiakini that opposition candidates like him were often denied access to the community halls.

"These SOPs are meant to disadvantage us in the opposition [...] they (GPS candidates) make use of community leaders and they make use of the community halls.

"They can bring in people, make use of (government) programmes and use the minister to do events with more than 150 people.

"We can't do that. We can only do (events) inside the house," he claimed when met after a ceramah to Bidayuh villagers in Kampung Serasot on Saturday.

Malaysiakini observed that the ceramah, held within the quarters of a private house, had to end at the two-hour mark even though it started later than the set time.

Chairs had to be removed from the narrow, semi-open-air space to allow for physical distancing.

Earlier that day, Granda had travelled into another village - Kampung Sebobok - to canvas for votes.

However, special branch police officers who accompanied his entourage told him he was not allowed to speak to villagers without a permit.

"They said we needed a permit. We applied but we did not get it.

"They said we could just go there and deliver my leaflets. I could not even shake hands or talk to them," Granda said.

Malaysiakini observed as his team had to cancel their plans, leaving soon after dropping off campaign material and food.

Granda said the double blow of such rules plus weak internet and phone signal coverage in Tasik Biru made it "impossible" for him to reach out to voters.

"The SOP is meant to give advantages to GPS and to punish us," he opined.

Malaysiakini is seeking comment from the EC on these complaints.

No ceramah altogether

PKR's candidate for Opar, Meneng Biris, has decided against holding ceramah altogether despite being allowed due to the rules.

"The SOPs are quite strict and everyone must take RTK-Antigen tests before the event. This is costly for us. And secondly, we need to apply for a permit. This is troublesome.

"It is hard to set a time for events because it sometimes rains, due to it being the monsoon season," she said when met in Bidayuh village Kampung Stenggang on Sunday.

Malaysiakini observed as Meneng travelled to different villages to distribute campaign material, stopping only for meals and greeting people along the way.

The Mas Gading PKR women's chief said she is banking on voters remembering her for her past efforts as part of NGO Persatuan Pertanian dan Penternakan Lundu Sematan.

"I am not campaigning like the other parties because I have already been through all these areas through my NGO," she said.

Meneng is up against three-term incumbent Ranum Mina, who was with the state government until 2019 when he co-launched opposition party Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB).

Also in the fray are Billy Sujang (GPS-SUPP), Saini Kakong (PBDSB), Bayang Teron (Sedar) and Freedy Misid (PBK).

Yesterday, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution urged the EC to take action after a polling station in Telang Usan was allegedly plastered with GPS flags and used for a state government event.

Electoral rights NGO Bersih has also criticised GPS chairperson Abang Johari Openg for campaigning using state government machinery by holding multiple events in his capacity as caretaker chief minister.

- Mkini