Key and tree among five popular symbols for Independents

KUALA LUMPUR: Key, horse, elephant, tree and house are five popular symbols that have been used by independent candidates contesting in elections in the last five years.

Of the 30 designated images allowed by the Election Commission (EC), these five symbols were the favourites.

“They are picked and used by the candidates because they are easily recognised and remembered,” said an EC official.

There are no statistics on how many times these signs had been used but the official said based on their observations from the last general election and 13 other by-elections since 2013, these were “hot”.

“Of the five symbols, the tree and elephant have been repeatedly used by candidates.”

In 2013, the EC introduced a new set of symbols for independents.

Of the 30 designated images, seven were retained from the old set and 23 others were new.

The EC decided to drop some of the past symbols as it felt that they might have negative connotations.

The official said there are no changes to the existing symbols which were introduced in the last general election.

 

Signs: The Election Commission has introduced a set of 30 images for Independent candidates to use in 2013.