JOHOR POLLS | Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has agreed to relax the standard operating procedure (SOP) for the ongoing Johor state election, according to Pakatan Harapan chairperson Anwar Ibrahim.
The parliamentary opposition leader said this while debating the royal address in Dewan Rakyat today.
“In our meeting with the prime minister yesterday, he acknowledged that (the SOP) will be relaxed a bit. We can hardly campaign in the state election as the SOP limits a maximum attendance of 100 people at the ceramah and the ceramah can only be held at the halls,” he said.
He said a fairer SOP must be accepted by the Ismail Sabri-led government as it was the decision of his party to dissolve the Johor government, resulting in fresh polls.
“I urge the prime minister to review the SOP in order to treat (everyone) fairly. Those who decided to hold an election must be prepared to accept a fairer SOP,” he said.
“There are many conditions (set by the Election Commission). While we do agreed SOPs on mask and social distancing, the government must give more leeway,” he said.
“We have our own limit and our machinery cannot (effectively) convey messages to the people via ceramah due to obstruction,” said the Port Dickson MP.
Meanwhile, Mohamad Sabu (Harapan-Kota Raja) lamented that his party was slapped with RM3,000 compound notices for three SOP breaches when delivering a speech at an event in Johor.
“I was compounded for not wearing a mask (while delivering speeches), for not putting entry and exit signs at the venue and another SOP (breach),” he said.
“In our meeting with the prime minister, I asked him if we can campaign until 11pm, and the prime minister said, ‘Why not (extend) until 12am, what is the difference between the Covid (virus) at 10pm and 12am?’.
“But what is said is different from what is being implemented. This has become an issue,” said the Amanah president.
Anwar together with his allies - Mohamad and DAP's Lim Guan Eng - said in a joint statement after the meeting with Ismail Sabri yesterday that the premier promised Harapan a constitutional amendment bill in relation to the upcoming anti-hopping laws.
They also urged Ismail Sabri to loosen restrictions for the Johor polls campaign.
The campaign rules for the Johor election limits gatherings to party headquarters only with a maximum attendance of 100 and these functions must end at 10pm.
Face-to-face vote canvassing is allowed by teams of no more than five persons. - Mkini
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