Ceramah allowed in Johor polls but limited to 100 pax
JOHOR POLLS | Ceramah and other face-to-face campaigning methods will be allowed in the upcoming Johor state election, according to standard operating procedures (SOP) released by the Election Commission (EC) tonight.
This marks the first time such political talks are allowed since the 2020 Sabah election led to a surge in Covid-19 cases, apart from exceptions made during last year’s Sarawak state election for areas with poor internet access.
However, the SOPs stipulate that the ceramah can only be held at political party offices and their official operations rooms, and the attendance is to be limited to just 100 people including organisers and speakers.
They must also be fully vaccinated, maintain physical distancing of at least one metre apart, and wear face masks, among other requirements.
The ceramah is only allowed to run for up to two hours and no later than 10pm, and no entertainment is allowed.
Holding the ceramah in open or public areas is also expressly forbidden.
This is in contrast to pre-pandemic ceramah that can sometimes draw crowds numbering in the thousands and lasting until midnight, which are often held on makeshift stages set up in open areas.
It should also be noted that health experts consider open areas to have a lower risk of Covid-19 transmission than indoor spaces, due to better ventilation.
House-to-house visits, walkabouts
The SOPs also permit house-to-house campaigning and walkabouts to take place, but campaigners are limited to groups of no more than five people and are not allowed to enter constituents’ homes.
“Any distribution of leaflets or pamphlets must be done from outside the gate while always ensuring physical distancing of at least one metre,” it said.
Covid-19 testing and party meetings
Political party machinery and election candidates are required to undergo an RTK-Ag test for Covid-19 every two days throughout the campaign period, and report the results through MySejahtera.
Only those with negative test results will be allowed to participate in campaign activities.
Political party meetings are limited to vaccinated individuals numbering up to 50 percent of the venue’s capacity, with physical distancing being maintained.
Such meetings may not be held more than four times a week and each meeting can only last no more than two hours.
SOPs for voters
As for the voting process, the SOP stipulates that the EC’s MySPR Semak and electoral roll checking websites will recommend each voter to come to the polling centre at one of five two-hour time slots, in an effort to reduce crowding.
They are to leave the polling centre immediately after casting their ballot.
People diagnosed with Covid-19 are forbidden to leave home or healthcare facilities to vote. For other people with symptoms or under quarantine for being a close contact or other reasons, however, special procedures are in place to enable them to vote.
The SOP stipulates that patients under investigation (PUI) and persons under surveillance (PUS) may ask the local District Health Office for permission to leave quarantine to go to the polling centre, where a special space will be made available for them to cast their ballots.
“This permission is subject to transmission risk assessment by the district health officer, and the voter must follow all guidelines determined by the Health Ministry,” it said.
The PUI and PUS must also use their own transport to travel to the polling centre and are forbidden from taking public transportation.
The special voting area will be sanitised each time it is used.
Those with symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, and breathing difficulties will also be isolated immediately from other voters to cast their ballots in the special area.
They will be required to double-mask and wear gloves. Indelible ink will be applied to their finger using a disposable brush instead of dipping their finger in the ink.
Polling day for the Johor state election falls on March 12. The nomination day is set for Feb 26 with a campaigning period of 14 days.
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