Where are the guidelines for Melaka polls, asks Bersih

PETALING JAYA: With nomination day for the Melaka state election less than a week away, electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 has urged the authorities to unveil the guidelines to ensure a safe and fair election.

“Where are the guidelines?” asked Bersih chairman Thomas Fann.

“Like all contesting parties and candidates, we are anxiously waiting to see if the Election Commission (EC) will come out with rules that would comply with the national recovery plan Phase 4 SOPs,” he told FMT.

Previously, health minister Khairy Jamaluddin said ceramahs and social gatherings related to the polls would be barred until Nov 27, a week after polling.

Fann said that given the “extreme” restrictions, the EC must facilitate a fair election process.

This, he said, includes getting government-owned television and radio stations to provide equitable airtime for all parties and candidates.

“Their duty is not limited to conducting safe voting on polling day but (to ensure) that the whole election is conducted fairly and that all parties and voters are able to participate without undue hindrances.”

He added that a ban on physical campaigning would be an advantage to the government of the day as it has access to the media and the ability to campaign under the pretext of carrying out official duties. — Free Malaysia Today