MP: Permit requirement for ceramah regressive, may lead to bias

 

JOHOR POLLS | The requirement to obtain a permit from the police to conduct a ceramah is a step back from a free and fair election, according to Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching.

This comes after the Election Commission (EC) released the standard operating procedures (SOP) for the upcoming Johor election.

“It is disappointing and disheartening that while conducting a ceramah is allowed, we would need to obtain a permit from the police.

“This form of bureaucratic procedure is regressive as permits are no longer a necessity,” she said in a statement today.

While the Police Act 1967 previously required organisers to seek permission from the police, Teo said it is no longer enforced.

“Section 27 of this Act was repealed in 2012. Thus no longer requiring organisers to seek permission from the police. They would just need to notify the police of the scheduled time and place,” she added.

Rules already clear

Teo pointed out that while it was important to take extra precautions to protect people from contracting Covid-19, obtaining a police permit would not meet that purpose.

“This is particularly when the SOPs are already quite clear in terms of activities and capacities allowed.

“Furthermore, it leaves the onus on (the police) to arbitrarily withhold permits if and when they see fit,” she added.

The DAP lawmaker called on the EC to reconsider the stipulated SOP as it did not clarify the number of days it would take for the permit to be approved and would “hurt the election process.”

She also warned that biases may occur in the event the previous ruling coalition obtains more ceramah permits than opposing coalitions.

Election SOPs

Last Friday the EC announced that ceramah and other face-to-face campaigning methods will be allowed in the upcoming Johor polls.

This marks the first time such political talks are allowed since the 2020 Sabah election led to a surge in Covid-19 cases, apart from exceptions made during last year’s Sarawak state election for areas with poor internet access.

However, the SOPs stipulate that the ceramah can only be held at political party offices and their official operations rooms and the attendance is to be limited to just 100 people including organisers and speakers.

They must also be fully vaccinated, maintain physical distancing of at least one metre apart, and wear face masks, among other requirements.

The ceramah is only allowed to run for up to two hours and no later than 10pm, and no entertainment is allowed.

Holding the ceramah in open or public areas is also expressly forbidden.

This is in contrast to pre-pandemic ceramah that can sometimes draw crowds numbering in the thousands and lasting until midnight, which are often held on makeshift stages set up in open areas.

It should also be noted that health experts consider open areas to have a lower risk of Covid-19 transmission than indoor spaces, due to better ventilation. - Mkini