KUALA LUMPUR – Annoyed residents are voicing ire over political campaign materials left in place despite the 15th general election (GE15) concluding a week and a half ago.
A staple during election seasons, campaign materials such as coalition flags and banners promoting candidates make the atmosphere festive and may have sparked excitement when first erected or hung.
However, they are now becoming an eyesore. The Vibes’ Bahasa Malaysia sister portal Getaran found that the scenery in several Cheras localities remains “littered” with the materials.
For Fathihi Mohd Fateh, 36, a roadside burger seller, the materials, which were placed around his stall without his approval, are a cause for concern as they obstruct the view of drivers at the traffic intersection nearby.
“When you are putting up the (campaign) flags, you should look at whether it will block the view (of the road).
“They know how to put (the campaign materials) up speedily, but they don’t seem to know when to take them down. GE15 has ended, even though we have a prime minister already,” he told Getaran.
Fathihi said he witnessed a near-accident involving a motorcyclist last week because of a broken wooden flagpole that had been left abandoned in the middle of the road.
A security guard at a condominium, who requested anonymity, expressed a similar sentiment, claiming that drivers have perilously driven over fallen flag stands, and this could have caused trouble affecting other road users.
“There is nothing wrong with campaigning, but once the elections are over, hurry up and remove the campaign materials,” he lamented.
“Just the other day I saw a flagpole fall over, and when a car ran over it, the wooden pole broke and flew into pieces. What if someone had been beside the car, or if a motorcyclist had been nearby? It is very dangerous!”
He also asked whether the deployed coalition flags will be disposed of or kept by party machinery, asserting that it would be a “waste” if new campaign materials have to be produced for every national poll.
“I’ve noticed that all the flags look brand new since I sometimes have to move the flags and damaged poles because I am worried about peoples’ safety. If they are putting up new materials at every general election, is that not a waste?” he said.
According to the Election Commission, under the Election Offences Act 1954, campaign materials put up during the campaign period must be cleared up by candidates or their election agents within 14 days after election day.
Based on the guideline above, candidates have until December 3 to remove their promotional materials since polling day for GE15 was November 19.
It is understood that if the candidate or their election agents fail to comply with the law, the candidates’ deposit will be forfeited and paid to the federal consolidated funds, allowing the state elections director to use the money to conduct clearing-up works. – The Vibes, November 30, 2022
