The Election Commission (EC) has reminded political parties that only contesting parties were allowed to put up campaign paraphernalia in the Bagan Pinang by-election.

"I am calling for cooperation from parties, which are not contesting, not to complicate things by going against the law.

“If these parties are not contesting, they are not paying any election deposit; why then should they put up their campaign materials?" asked EC deputy chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, obviously referring to PAS allies PKR and DAP.

bukit gantang election day flags and posters 070409 He said that in the case of BN, it was a registered party comprising 14 component members.

As far as the EC was concerned, Wan Ahmad said, Pakatan Rakyat was non-existent.

Saying that the EC only recognised registered parties, he said, it would be up to the media if they wanted to use the term ‘Pakatan Rakyat’.

He stressed, however, that the pact was not a registered entity.

"Why they are still not registered puzzles me," he said.

bukit gantang by election bn posters on site 310309 01 Wan Ahmad said that the EC will set up three enforcement teams comprising officers from the EC, police and local authorities as well as individuals representing the candidates to monitor the

campaign for the by-election.

The teams are answerable to the returning officer and would be deployed in polling districts throughout the constituency.

"They will be provided with work procedure guideline," he told reporters after a briefing session with 277 EC officers involved in the by-election, in Port Dickson today.

EC to address doubts over postal votes

Meanwhile, Wan Ahmad said, the EC would ensure the postal voting was carried out in accordance with the law.

He said that the Bagan Pinang by-election would involve 4,604 postal voters.

"The polling process at army camps is the same; it's only that they cast their votes much earlier, probably by Oct 8 or 9. It's up to the camp management," he said.

He also said that the EC would strive to address all doubts over the postal voting process.

"It is the rights of armed forces personnel to vote in elections and the law under which they can exercise these rights is through postal voting," he said.

Wan Ahmad also said that the EC would fully enforce the campaign prohibition during polling day on Oct 11.

The Bagan Pinang by-election is called following the death of its incumbent assemblyman Azman Mohammad Noor of BN on Sept 4. The nomination is on Saturday.

- Bernama