The Election Commission (EC) decision to ban political caricature during the 13th general election has been frowned upon by some  Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders.

Among those the ban has found disfavour include Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and Gerakan Secretary General Teng Chang Yeow.

EC deputy chairperson Wan Ahmad Wan Omar had said that political parties will not be allowed to put up posters or buntings bearing caricatures of any individual or personality, in order to protect candidates image and impose discipline for putting up posters.

NONE Khairy( right ) said that the EC ban should not apply to those with a positive message.

The Rembau MP said that while defamatory messages should not be allowed through caricature or any other medium, there is no reason for a blanket ban.

"The EC needs to clarify what they mean by a ban. Sometimes political parties may depict one of their leaders in a caricature to praise his deeds, and there is nothing wrong with that," he said.

Khairy also pointed out that both the government and the opposition utilize caricatures to promote their messages on a frequent basis.

Teng Chang Yeow has expressed his disagreement with the EC decision in even stronger terms.

The Penang BN chairperson declared on his Facebook page today that Wan Ahmad's decision was wrong.

Teng explained that a hostile environment is not created by caricatures, but by groups or individuals who behave irresponsibly.

"In the last 12 elections, it was not caricatures that created the hostile environment. We have a mature electoral campaign process. Don't destroy it," he said.