Allow in-person ceramahs, house visits for Johor polls, Pakatan tells EC

KUALA LUMPUR – The Election Commission (EC) must make amendments to standard operating procedures (SOPs) ahead of the Johor polls to allow for in-person ceramahs and campaigning to take place safely, said the Pakatan Harapan (PH) presidential council.

In a statement, the council also urged the EC to allow other physical campaigning activities such as house visits involving strict compliance with SOPs.

It said the calls were made in light of the Covid-19 situation that has become relatively endemic with the number of cases and hospitalisations remaining at stable levels.

The opposition leaders also said that 80% of the population had received their second vaccine doses, while 30% had gotten their booster shots.

The council also called for equal access to the media in terms of airtime as well as to online and newspaper publications.

It said the EC must be actively present at Malaysian high commissions in Singapore, United Kingdom, United States, Australia and other countries to allow for the smooth conducting of postal voting.

Another suggestion was for the EC to allow for at least 21 days for the campaigning period.

The statement was jointly signed by PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah president Mohamed Sabu, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, and Sabah’s United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau.

The PH presidential council said its bid in the polls is not only to regain the people’s mandate as obtained in the previous general election, but to form a more stable government in Johor.

However, the council said it is not in favour of holding polls as the dissolution of the state government was “arranged” specifically to pressure Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to dissolve Parliament and to hold a general election soon.

“At a time when the people especially in Johor are constrained by the issues of the economy, Covid-19 pandemic, and floods, the Johor election will burden the rakyat.

“However, Pakatan Harapan has made the decision to contest in the Johor election.”

It added that the allocation of seats, launching of election machinery, announcement of the menteri besar candidate, and cooperation or political agreement with other opposition parties will be finalised soon. – The Vibes, January 24, 2022