EC denies selective surveillance, urges candidates to file official complaints

SABAH POLLS | The Election Commission (EC) has denied claims that its officers are subjecting certain parties to unusually tight monitoring in the Sabah state election, and reminded candidates to file formal complaints if they believe any enforcement has overstepped the campaign rules.

EC secretary Khairul Shahril Idrus said all enforcement teams were carrying out “routine monitoring” as provided for under the Election Offences Act 1954, and rejected suggestions that any party was being singled out.

“The enforcement unit does not focus on or target any specific party or individual,” he said, adding that concerns should be channelled through the proper authorities to ensure the integrity and orderliness of the election process.

Khairul’s remarks came in response to allegations that EC officers had been exercising unusually tight scrutiny on the campaign trail, including stopping candidates midway through their speeches and enforcing bans on food and drink at small community events. 

Warisan vice-president Junz Wong claimed the officers had been moving “too close” to his party’s candidates throughout the sixth day of campaigning.

He also alleged that EC officers had been trailing and filming Warisan candidates at almost every stop since the campaign began.

‘I’ve never seen EC like this’

Wong, the Warisan candidate for Tanjung Aru constituency, said the level of monitoring and restrictions this time was unprecedented in his nearly 20 years in politics.

“I have been in politics for 18 years. I have never seen the EC like this. They follow candidates everywhere with cameras, like they are cameramen,” he told reporters at the Warisan Tanjung Aru office last Friday.

He said officers had even appeared at small kampung gatherings to impose rules on candidates, including barring them from serving food, which he described as a long-standing rural custom.

“It was never considered buying votes before. Now they say even giving food is not allowed.

“The norms here are such that if villagers are not offered something, they might think the candidate is arrogant,” he said.

‘Why Harapan spared?’

Wong also alleged double standards, pointing to Umno flags being put up in Tanjung Aru despite the party not contesting there.

“If you follow the EC’s law, the Umno flag should not be allowed. But they did not do anything,” he said. 

He also said food baskets were also distributed in some Pakatan Harapan events, and some of its candidates offered free registration for an insurance protection scheme, but no action had been taken.

Wong also described one incident in Hilltop where more than 10 EC and police officers arrived at a Warisan event even though the party had a valid police permit.

“They said the candidate was not allowed to speak because he was not a candidate for that area. We asked for black and white proof. They could not show anything,” he said, calling the authority’s presence “abnormal”.

Wong said similar restrictions did not apply when Harapan leaders appeared in constituencies where they were not contesting.

Despite the allegations, Wong said Warisan would not lodge official complaints at this stage but insisted on consistent enforcement. 

“If they want to take action, apply one law to everyone. This is democracy. Let the people decide,” he added.

Two days ago, Warisan Likas candidate Tham Yun Fook said he was told to stop his ceramah at a coffee shop in Luyang because he was not the candidate for that constituency.

Yesterday, Warisan president Shafie Apdal also cited the Luyang incident while campaigning in Keningau, saying the level of surveillance had become unusually tight, including bans on food and drink and instructions to halt ceramah despite candidates having valid permits.

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