JOHOR POLLS | Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob surveying the voting process near a polling centre constitutes an election offence, said electoral reform group Bersih.
This was after Ismail Sabri turned up outside SK Perumahan Tampoi 2, a polling centre for the Kempas state seat, in a blue BN shirt.
"Managed to observe the smooth voting process at the Taman Siantan polling centre (SK Perumahan Tampi 2) in DUN Kempas.
“To Ramlee who is facing a seven-cornered contest in Kempas, I pray victory will be on his side," Ismail Sabri had said on Facebook along with a photograph of him at the venue.
In Kempas, BN's Ramlee Bohani faces Pejuang's Nornekman Osman, Perikatan Nasional's Nur Faizal Abdullah, Pakatan Harapan's Napsiah Khamis and independent candidates Azwan Abd Rahman and Hambali Munadi.
Bersih election observer coordinator Ashraf Sharafi said party activists are not allowed to carry campaign material within 50 metres of a polling centre.
Furthermore, he said campaigning is also not allowed anywhere in the constituency on polling day.
"Anyone who campaigns on polling day, including the prime minister, it is considered an election offence," he said.
He cited Section 26(1)(f) of the Election Offences Act 1954 which states: "No person shall on polling day on behalf of any candidate, canvass for the votes of electors in any constituency for or against any candidate or political party at an election by whatever means including visiting electors at their homes or places of work or interviewing members of the public."
"The spirit of the law is that there should be no campaigning on polling day," said Ashraf.
He also noted that some campaigners have continued to post materials on social media on polling day. He acknowledged that this was a "grey area".
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