GEORGE TOWN – DAP will seek a meeting with the Election Commission (EC) after two of its local figures were allegedly harassed over their attendance at a temple celebration in Jelutong here ahead of the 15th general election (GE15).
Its legal bureau member R.S.N. Rayer, who is defending his Jelutong parliamentary seat under Pakatan Harapan (PH), and the party’s Sg Pinang assemblyman Lim Siew Khim said they were reprimanded by a team of police and election inspectors at the event last night.
They said they were told not to wear their campaign attire, speak only in Bahasa Malaysia to ensure that their speeches have no political content, and disperse after the event.
This is apparently in view of police imposing a requirement for election candidates to obtain permits to go on walkabouts when campaigning for the general election.
Rayer said that the party will study the legal aspect of this as such requirements prevent election candidates from actively campaigning.
“To come out with such a requirement during an election is unbecoming. Why are similar rulings not applicable to other parties in Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Barisan Nasional (BN)?" he said at a press conference here today.
Asked if DAP will pursue a legal recourse to challenge this requirement, Rayer said that by the time the court hears the application, the election, scheduled for November 19, may be over.
Nevertheless, Rayer said that DAP plans to meet police and EC officials over the matter.
The incumbent Rayer is locked in a six-cornered fight against Datuk Baljit Singh (PN), Koh Swe Yong of PRM, independent Yacoob Noor, Datuk T. Loganathan (BN), and Martin Lim Huat Poh (Warisan).
DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng urged the authorities to be impartial to all candidates, as it is only fair that everyone is given an equal chance to try to win a seat.
Recalling the incident, Siew Khim claimed that the officials were callous and demanded that she speak in Bahasa Malaysia and change her shirt to something “neutral”.
“I am an elected representative and they treated me like this. In the middle of the campaigning season. Something is seriously wrong here," she said.
Later, Rayer showed a video of an BN candidate allegedly holding a lucky draw for voters with prizes of up to RM25,000 on offer.
“They can take part provided they vote for BN. Isn’t this bordering on an election offence?” asked Rayer.
He said he plans to share the video with the EC so they can investigate – The Vibes, November 11, 2022
