The Penanti by-election will enable the Election Commission (EC) to apply the litmus test in strictly enforcing election laws and other curbs on both nomination and polling day.

Political parties and their supporters will, for example, be prevented from canvassing for votes and campaigning from midnight to 5pm on polling day - May 31 - to allow a cooling-off period for voters to make their choice.

spr putrajaya penanti by election abdul aziz yusof 270409 01 “We have allowed a campaign period from May 23 (nomination day) until midnight on May 30 and you can campaign all you want within that. On polling day, stop it...I don’t want a mockery of the law,” warned EC head Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof at a press conference this morning.

He also did not rule out the possibility that the number of supporters accompanying candidates on nomination day would be limited to a “sensible” number, so that the police strength can also be reduced.

“There are no provisions in the law to limit the number of supporters. But from our observation, the numbers are getting bigger just to escort their candidate to the nomination centre. Anything could happen if this gets out of control,” said Abdul Aziz.

His deputy, Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, said canvassers and supporters will no longer be allowed to set up pondok panas (booths) at polling stations.

polling day 080308 pkr pondok panas gopeng Traditionally, political parties have set up such booths sto assist voters to check their voting status and identify the right 'stream’ before they cast their ballots.

However, Wan Ahmad noted that “centres of tension” tend to form around such booths. As such, the EC will hold a meeting with the police to apply restrictions stringently, so that the situation is fair to all political parties.

“We can’t stop people from moving around (at the polling stations) because they have freedom of movement. But, we see the pondok panas as a place to campaign and we cannot allow this,” he said.

The police and the EC’s returning officers will ensure that political parties do not set up such booths on polling day.

“We can stop them because we have the right to do so. If anyone violates this, the EC will take action,” said Wan Ahmad.

Under the Election Commission Act, the offending candidate’s victory (should he or she win) can be revoked, while supporters who are found guilty would lose their right to vote for five years.

Abdul Aziz said the Penanti by-election will feature booths set up the EC itself, thereby rendering redundant those of political parties.

‘Not all parties agreeable’

Abdul Aziz also revealed that political parties have been informed of the changes ahead, but that not all of them are in agreement with the EC.

“To agree and disagree is normal. Throughout history, whenever you enforce a law anywhere in the world, there will never be 100 percent agreement,” he said.

Asked if the EC would amend the law to prevent ‘unnecessary’ by-elections, as has been suggested, Abdul Aziz said the commission “would look into it in more detail”.

“This is because the responsibility for amending the law does not lie with the EC...besides, the existing law already provides for a heavy penalty for any elected representative who resigns, by not allowing them to contest for five years,” he added.