YOURSAY | ‘Its new rules are unfair, unnecessary and confusing.’

EC announces additional requirements for campaign materials

Headhunter: Introducing new rules at this juncture is unfair, unnecessary and confusing. Materials that have been printed and prepared may now have to be discarded as using them could disqualify a candidate.

Why weren't these rules implemented at a much earlier stage before preparations for election were initiated by all interested parties?

This ad hoc decision shows how incompetent the Election Commission (EC) is. Worse, it gives people the impression that the EC is trying to hobble the opposition’s campaign as election day approaches.

Anonymous_1412829994: Looking at the details of what can be and cannot be done, it is clearly a tailor-made set of rules to facilitate the incumbent and tie both the hands and legs of its opponents.

Clearly and practically, there will be zero additional restrictions imposed on the incumbent, whereas its opponents, not being officially registered and recognised by EC, can have none of its pictures of symbolic figures, leaders, and logos of component parties displayed.

This thus minimises or even to a large extent wipes out the influence and goodwill of these vital contents.

Vgeorgemy: As the EC proclamation is not according to the rule of law, but rule by law, the rakyat can reject it outright.

This proclamation prior to the date of nomination day is nothing but a transgression of fundamental rights enshrined in our beloved constitution.

The EC, as a constitutional body, should work within the confines of the constitution, not as an extra-constitutional authority.

Shame on the EC for resorting to intimidation and attempting to restrict electoral democracy.

Behsaikong: How can these numerous new requirements be complied with just days before nomination day?

Whichever side can in next to no time comply with these sudden new requirements will either have enough money, suppliers, printers, or anticipation that such sudden additional requirements were to be made by the EC.

Anon: Get a judicial review against this because the EC announced the new rules three days before nomination and the posters have already been printed.

It is against the principles of fair elections as pictures of component coalition parties and candidates have always been used.

Tanahairku Malaysia: Running scared – that’s why there have been so many tricks before the 14th general election (GE14).

The rakyat is quietly observing. This time, we do not even bother to protest or argue, as we are so used to all this nonsense from the EC.

We will just show you what we think on May 9.

DAP to EC: Why not just ban Dr M's picture during campaigning?

RR: I don't know who the advisors are for EC and Umno. With all these new rules of restrictions for GE14, Umno-BN is only further incurring the wrath of the voters.

They may not even get sympathy votes from even Umno voters for their biased actions.

Iiiizzzziiii: Your democratic rights and freedom have been trampled upon by the EC. As a watchdog set to up to ensure there is a prevailing sense of fairness in a general election, the EC is doing the opposite.

It has become too obvious that it is no longer an independent body and is subservient to the incumbent government.

If the opposition wins the election, will action be taken against those individuals in the EC who are out to sabotage clean and fair elections?

Odysseus: The fear of losing in GE14 is real. All sorts of rules are being imposed. I don't think we have seen the last of this.

Who knows, many nominations may be rejected for the flimsiest reasons on April 28.

P Dev Anand Pillai: Does this law apply to the BN? If it doesn't, let us break it and fight back. Let us chase the municipal council workers back to their trucks and vans.

If we, the people, start the revolt, it can't be stopped. So let's just do it, people.

Anonymous Malaysia2018: EC, don't shift the goalposts during a match. Once the rules are set, stick to them as an impartial referee.

Why did you suddenly think of new restrictions? When Harapan takes Putrajaya, do you know what will happen to you? Figure it out.

Clever Voter: Assuming these silly rules are enforced, it makes little difference to the opposition campaign.

Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been all over the social and mainstream media plus local talks, gossip, videos over Facebook, et cetera. International media including CNN, Al-Jazeera and BBC have given him airtime too.

Street posters are a pain, and an environmental hazard. Local folks don't take notice of even the caretaker federal territories minister prominently displayed at strategic places.

There are already so many attempts to derail the opposition momentum, but not one has succeeded.

Undecided: This EC chief's action has made its already poor credibility beyond redemption, as far as the rakyat is concerned. It is so anti-democratic and unreasonable.

Roar For Truth: The EC should just come out with new rules to empower it to decide who qualifies as candidates and who is the winner, irrespective of what voters decide, since the EC knows best.

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