The 15th General Election (GE15) in Malaysia is just around the corner. Now, every party has started to campaign to promote itself as the best party for Malaysians to choose.
Interestingly, the purpose of election campaigns is to have an open and honest conversation about who would make the best representative and, by extension, whose party would create the best government.
Therefore, we can see many flags of certain parties planted on every corner of the street and road. Parties are busy launching their campaigns with large rallies across Malaysia.
But do you know that there are some things that parties can and cannot do when they are campaigning? Yes, that’s right! There are a few do’s and don’ts that they can and cannot do.
The Royal Malaysian Police has posted a post on their Facebook regarding the do’s and don’ts during the campaigning period.
What’s more, it stated that the Royal Malaysian Police will take strict action against any individual who tries to provoke provocations, disrupt public peace litigation, and violate the law, especially the Election Offences Act 1954 during Nomination Day, campaigning period, Election Day and the period after voting or post-General Election (PRU).
The Do’s
• B.1.Candidates or elections agents who wish to:
1.1 hold, call or arrange an open public meeting, open public assembly, open public show, or open public entertainment; or
1.2 give any open public speech or public lecture
must apply for a permit from the District Police Chief. [Section 248(3) of the Election Offences Act 1954]
• B.2. Candidates or election agents may display, give or distribute election campaign materials to the public in the election division in which the candidate is contesting, provided that he/she
2.1 holds a permit from the State Election Officer (subject to the terms and conditions specified)
and
2.2 pay the State Election Officer a deposit of:
2.2.1 RM5,000 in the election to the Dewan Rakyat; and
2.2.2 RM3,000 in the election to the State Legislative Assembly. [Section 248(4) of the Election Offences Act 1954]
• B.3. Candidates and election agents who hold rallies, meetings, or parades without a permit and do not comply with the conditions of the permit (for example: giving talks exceeding the campaigning time limit), or exhibiting, giving or distributing compound materials without a permit, may;
3.1. arrested (arrestable offence within the meaning of the Criminal Procedure Code) [Section 248(11) Election Offences act 1954]; and
3.2 punished:
imprisonment not exceeding 1 year;
fine: not exceeding RM3,000, or both. [Section 248(10) of the Election Offences Act 1954]
The Don’ts
• B.4. During the campaigning period, no one can display or stick campaign materials within 50 metres of the boundary of any Centre Voting. [Section 248(7) of the Election Offences Act 1954]
• B.5. Any person who commits this offence may;
5.1 arrested (arrestable within the meaning of the Code of Criminal Procedure) [Section 24a(11) Election Offences Act 1954];
and
5.2 punished:
imprisonment: no more than 1 year;
fine: not exceeding RM3,000; or both. [Section 248(10) of the Election Offences Act 1954]
• B.6. During this campaigning period as well, the public is also advised not to commit offences under the Election Offences Act 1954 as follows:
6.1 hold talks/lectures that have elements of defamation and develop bad feelings, dissatisfaction and hostility. [Section 4a or the Election Offences Act 1954]
6.2 display campaign material that contains elements of developing bad feelings or hostility. [Section 44 of the Election Offences Act 1954]
6.3 display campaign material without the name and address of the printer and publisher. [Section 11(1)(c) of Election Offences Act 1954]
6.4 make or publish any false statement of fact relating to the candidate’s character or conduct. [Section 11(1)(d) of the Election Offences Act 1954]
6.5 make or publish any false statement regarding the withdrawal of any other candidate in the Election. [Section 11(1)(e) of the Election Offences Act 1954]
Source: PDRM