The National Unity and Integration Department will closely monitor the campaign in the upcoming Bagan Pinang by-election in Negeri Sembilan to ensure that political parties do not exploit racial or religious issues.

t murugiah Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department T Murugiah told Bernama that department officers would be deployed around the constituency to follow the campaign by the contesting parties.

He said that they had been instructed to report to the police immediately if they came across speakers making inflammatory remarks which were likely to cause tension.

"Our main concern is to ensure peaceful campaigning and we will be strictly impartial and report breaches irrespective of the political parties involved,” said Murugiah, who is in charge of the department.

He hoped campaigners would adhere to the rules and conduct the campaign in an orderly manner to avoid untoward incidents.

The by-election on Oct 11 is called following the death of Azman Mohammad Noor of Barisan Nasional on Sept 4.

- Bernama