EC tears down 'seditious' PBS billboard

SANDAKAN: The Election Commission (EC) has taken down a billboard, which implied that Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng threatened Sandakan voters by saying he would not address the issue of insufficient parking bays at the Sandakan Hospital should the DAP's candidate lose in the May 11 polls.

EC officers were seen dismantling the billboard at Batu 3, Jalan Utara on Thursday (May 2).

An EC officer, Asarakal Martinis, told reporters the billboard was taken down because it was allegedly “seditious”.

“We referred the matter to the EC headquarters in Putrajaya, and following that we were ordered to take it down,” he said.

The Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) billboard depicted a screenshot from Astro AEC’s Mandarin news, with a Chinese headline which translates to “Insufficient parking lots in Sandakan hospital; Lim: If we win, then find me. If we lose, there’s nothing I can do”.

It is understood that PBS Deputy President Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai is meeting the returning officer (RO) at the Sandakan Municipal Council over the matter.

He is expected to hold a press conference following the meeting.

A police report was also lodged by DAP over the billboard on Wednesday (May 1).

DAP publicity secretary Phoong Jin Zhe told reporters earlier on Thursday (May 2) that the report was lodged because Lim’s remarks were taken out of context.

“It doesn’t mean that we won’t build the carpark. They are trying to project the image that we are threatening the voters. But that is not the case.”

DAP’s candidate Vivian Wong said Lim was merely telling her to work harder to highlight the issue.

“If I were elected as an MP, I need to bring this issue to parliament. They are trying to tell me that I have to work hard to win this seat and fight for whatever we need in Sandakan,” she said.

The Sandakan polls is set to see a five-cornered fight between PBS, DAP and three independent candidates on May 11.