‘Irrelevant parties’ cannot display party flags at by-elections

All this while I thought that the election commission, police force and the judicial system should be run independently. After reading this article which reports in 'The Star", i think many readers will agree with me on how narrow minded and bias the election commission is.

SUNGAI PETANI: DAP and other irrelevant parties in Pakatan Rakyat are barred from displaying party materials during the tri by-elections in Bukit Selambau, Bukit Gantang and Batang Ai.

Election Commission deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said that as Pakatan Rakyat was a loose coalition which was not legally recognised, its component parties were not allowed to display party flags, banners and logos during the campaign period.

“We also do not allow irrelevant parties to apply for ceramah permit.

For example, in Bukit Selambau, we only allow PKR to apply for ceramah permits and display party materials. In Bukit Gantang only PAS flags can be displayed, he said.

However, Barisan Nasional component parties were free to display their respective party flags as it was a legally recognised coalition, he added.

He said this after visiting the nomination centre in SM Teknik 1 here on Saturday.

Declaring that Bukit Selambau was now under police jurisdiction, Wan Ahmad said loud music, blasting radios and loud speakers were not allowed when candidates parade with their supporters to the nomination centre.