Give candidates access to army camp

EC: Not fair to allow in only one candidate to campaign

PORT DICKSON:

With early voting for the by-election tomorrow, the Election Commission has called on the Defence Ministry to give candidates equal access to army camps.

Its chairman Azhar Harun also warned ministers to only campaign outside office hours and ensure that no government assets were used.

This came about following complaints that Pakatan Harapan candidate Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had attended functions in the army camp here and the presence of several ministers in the constituency.

Azhar said the permission to enter army camps came under the purview of the military and the Defence Ministry.

“It is not fair and just if only one candidate is allowed to campaign in army camps and others aren’t allowed.

“It contradicts the principle and spirit of democracy and free and fair campaigning activities.

“The EC would like to suggest that army camps or even the ministry give equal opportunities to all candidates, subject to security procedures,” he said in a statement here yesterday.

On Saturday, PAS candidate Lt-Kol (Rtd) Mohd Nazari Mokhtar urged for all candidates to be given equal access to army camps following Anwar’s recent visit.

Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Aminuddin Harun said he invited Anwar to a function in the army camp.

“The EC is of the opinion that it is the responsibility of every candidate and their party to ensure that the law is not abused and the principles and spirit of democracy is upheld,” he said.

The EC, said Azhar, acknowledged that some Cabinet members and politicians with posts in the government – except for civil servants – had the right to campaign for a candidate, as this was a party activity.

“However, the EC would like to stress that they do not use govern- ment assets or facilities when campaigning.

“In fact, campaigning activities must be done outside their work hours,” said Azhar, adding that they should know how to differentiate between their roles as a party member or leader and as part of the government’s administration.

So far, several ministers including Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu, Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Saifudin Nasution Ismail have come to Port Dickson.

The commission also cautioned candidates that it might be an offence if development projects were launched to specifically fish for votes, adding that this could invalidate the by-election should any petition be filed.

The EC, said Azhar, had been monitoring the campaign activities in Port Dickson, adding that some were met with negative responses from the public, which might give the election process and democratic practices a “bad name”.