KUALA LUMPUR – Campaigning in the by-elections for the Padang Serai parliamentary and Tioman state seats, which started last November 24, will end at 11.59pm today.
After that, all candidates contesting for the seats will be prohibited from campaigning or canvassing for votes as it would be polling day.
According to the official website of the Election Commission (EC), Subsection 26(1) of the Election Offences Act 1954 prohibits anyone from holding, convening, or organising any form of meeting, rally, show, entertainment, or giving public speeches after the campaigning period ends.
The law also prohibits anyone from furnishing or supplying any loudspeakers for political purposes and opening or establishing or maintaining an office or a booth within the constituency in which a candidate seeks election for any purpose connected with an election on polling day.
Any person who contravenes any of the provisions shall be liable, on conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to a fine not exceeding RM5,000 or both.
Polling for the two seats was postponed following the death of a candidate contesting in each, namely M. Karupaiya of Pakatan Harapan (PH) for Padang Serai and Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Md Yunus Ramli for Tioman.
Karupaiya, 69, died on November 16, believed to be due to a heart attack and health complications, while Yunus, 61, died on polling day for the 15th general election, November 19.
The contest for Padang Serai will see a six-cornered fight among PH candidate Mohamad Sofee Razak, Datuk C. Sivaraajh (Barisan Nasional), Datuk Azman Nasrudin (PN), and Hamzah Abd Rahman (Pejuang).
The other two contenders are Mohd Bakhri Hashim, representing Warisan, and independent candidate Sreanandha Rao.
However, last December 2, BN agreed to give way to PH for the parliamentary seat.
Prior to that, Warisan announced that it would not take part in the election, but the party logo would still appear on the ballot paper, as it had already been registered as one of the competing parties.
Meanwhile, Tioman will witness a five-cornered fight that includes PN candidate Nor Idayu Hashim, Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Hussain (BN), Osman A. Bakar (Pejuang), and Sulaiman Bakar (independent).
The other candidate, Mohd Fadzli Mohd Ramly, of PH, is making way for the BN candidate to increase the latter’s chances of winning, but Fadzli’s name will still be on ballot papers.
According to the EC, the status of the candidates could not be changed after their nominations were accepted.
The electoral roll for Padang Serai contains 133,867 electors, while for Tioman, there are 28,465 registered voters. – Bernama, December 6, 2022
