EC: Thumbs up to parties in polls run-up

Getting ready: SPR staff busy with final preparations for Semenyih at Dewan Seri Cempaka in Kajang.

SEMENYIH: The Election Commission has given the thumbs-up to political parties and their supporters for making good progress in the way they canvass in the run-up to the Semenyih by-election.

Election Commission chairman Azhar Azizan Harun said there had been fewer cases of election-related offences throughout the campaign period.

He said up until Thursday night, 33 police reports regarding election offences had been lodged involving cases of holding ceramah without a permit.

“This number is fewer than in Cameron Highlands, which was about 43 cases. Furthermore, there were no reports lodged with the Malaysian Anti-Corrup­tion Com­­m­ission this time,” he said yesterday.

Azhar said this signified good progress in the way the parties and their supporters were canvassing.

“We have noticed a difference, following comments on social media and online portals.

“I see that issues raised here were fewer than in Cameron Highlands,” he said after inspecting the Dewan Seri Cempaka, which is the vote tallying centre for the by-election.

Azhar cited the example of a minister who had withdrawn an allocation for Semenyih voters on Thursday.

This was in reference to Tourism and Culture Minister Da­tuk Mohammadin Ketapi’s decision to withdraw an RM80,000 allocation for the upkeep of a hall in Semenyih, which has been criticised as a vote-buying move.