Mahkota By-election: EC Forms Enforcement Team To Monitor Candidate Campaigns

KLUANG, The Election Commission (EC) has set up an election campaign enforcement team to monitor the activities of candidates contesting in the Mahkota state by-election. Its deputy chairman Dr Azmi Sharom, in a statement today, expressed hope that the campaign activities, starting today and lasting until 11.59 on Sept 27, will be conducted in a harmonious manner and in full compliance with existing laws and regulations. He said that candidates who had paid the election campaign deposit were subject to local authority by-laws, as provided under the Election Offences Act 1954 (Act 5), when displaying and distributing campaign materials. This includes material containing candidates' photographs, party emblems or symbols, as well as pictures of coalition or component party leaders. 'All campaign materials and methods are permitted as long as they do not incite hatred, dissatisfaction, or enmity, are not racist, do not touch on religious sensitivities, including 3R (race, religion, royalty) issues and do not violate Act 5 and related laws. 'No limits have been set for pictures of political parties and coalition party leaders on campaign materials,' he said. In the same statement, the EC congratulated the returning officer Azurawati Wahid her team, and all parties involved, including the security forces, local authority, Insolvency Department, and the media, for ensuring a smooth nomination process at Dewan Tunku Ibrahim Ismail this morning. The Mahkota by-election is a straight contest between Barisan Nasional candidate Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah and Perikatan Nasional candidate Mohamad Haizan Jaafar. This by-election is being held following the death of the incumbent, Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, 63, who passed away while receiving treatment at the Enche' Besar Hajjah Khalsom Hospital on Aug 2. The EC has set the polling day for Sept 28, with early voting scheduled for Sept 24. Source: BERNAMA News Agency