Sandakan cops: We only advised EC to take down controversial billboard

SANDAKAN: The police did not order the Election Commission (EC) to remove the controversial banner by Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) that depicted Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng as threatening voters, says Sandakan police chief ACP Mohd Azhar Hamin.

According to ACP Mohd Azhar, the police only advised the EC to remove the controversial billboard, because it is evidence in an ongoing police investigation over the matter.

“It will be confiscated and registered as evidence until investigations are complete. This is because the power to remove a banner lies under the authority of the EC.

“The police are currently in the process of completing and expediting investigations for further action,” he said in a statement issued Friday (May 3).

ACP Mohd Azhar also said the billboard did not go against any offences under the Election Offences Act, adding that investigations only commenced following a police report.

He said the Sandakan police headquarters were ordered by the Sabah police contingent headquarters to investigate the matter under Section 504 of the Penal Code because there are elements of offences under the Election Offences Act.

ACP Mohd Azhar appealed to the public to stop speculating on the matter as the police are investigating the billboard in a professional, transparent and fair manner, according to the law.

He also advised all parties and people contesting in the current by-election to compete healthily and maturely, adding that it shouldn’t involve the EC in politics.

“The police will not tolerate any individuals who attempt to incite public unrest throughout the election process,” he added.

The billboard claimed Lim had threatened Sandakan voters by saying he could not address the issue of insufficient parking bays at the Sandakan Hospital, should its candidate Vivian Wong lose in the May 11 polls.

It was referring to a screenshot from Astro AEC’s Mandarin news, with the Chinese headline that translates to “Insufficient parking lots in Sandakan hospital - Lim: If we win, then find me. If we lose, there’s nothing I can do”.

DAP has since dismissed the contents in the billboard, as it explained that Lim’s remarks was taken out of context.