Limbang police today denied telling the DAP to sign an 'agreement' before issuing ceramah permits.

Limbang OCPD Landi Ilod said the document was just an 'advisory letter' to the DAP, reminding it to abide by the laws during the campaign.

"This is not an agreement. This is just an advisory letter to remind them to follow rules and regulations and the laws of Malaysia," Landi said when contacted today.

"They are politicians. They want to sensationalise the issue," he added.

NONE According to the Limbang DAP, which is bracing itself for an uphill battle in Bukit Kota , one of the two bumiputera seats contested by the party, the Limbang police yesterday called it to sign an unprecedented 'agreement' before ceramah permits could be issued.

"Yesterday afternoon we submitted the application for a permit but the police refused to accept it because we wanted to use a loudhailer at the ceramah ," DAP's Pasir Pinji assemblyperson Thomas Su told Malaysiakini when contacted today.

Police list contains ‘ridiculous' conditions, claim

Su said Landi then asked them to sign a six-page document containing 30 clauses on the do's and don'ts from nomination day to polling day, adding that refusal meant no police approval.

He is campaigning for DAP candidate Leong Kwang Yew, who is engaged in a four-way tussle with PBB candidate Abdul Rahman Ismail and two Independents.

Bukit Kota is a semi-rural seat in the Limbang parliamentary constituency.

Su described some of the clauses as simply "ridiculous" and aimed at hamstringing the DAP campaign.

One clause in the document, made available to Malaysiakini , prohibits the party from spontaneous speech-giving or campaigning when making the rounds to voters' houses.

"You are advised not to take the opportunity to give political speeches or campaign when this spontaneous rally or meeting happens. We would like to remind you that a permit is needed for all rallies, meetings or marches," the document says.

Another clause says the party must control the volume of loud speakers within the premises the ceramah is held.

"These meetings should not go beyond the perimeter of the house and speeches over loud speakers should not be audible to those outside the premises. All loudspeakers must be installed inside the house and directed inwards."

Questions arise why other areas unaffected

NONE Su, ( right ) a practising lawyer in Ipoh, said the police had abused their power in this case.

"If there is any guideline, it should come from the Election Commission, not from the police. There is no such thing in Kuching, Sibu and other areas."

Nevertheless, to be able to start effective campaigning, the party signed the document under protest.

Asked whether it was compulsory for the DAP to follow the document in order to get ceramah permit, Landi replied: "It is up to them", adding that police would take the necessary action should they break the law.

On the spontaneous rally ban, Landi explained that this was prohibited under the Police Act 1963.

"When people start to gather around you, that is a public gathering, and that needs a police permit."

He said an election was not a special period when the existing laws could be compromised.