New EC ruling to ensure confrontations are avoided, says Johor top cop

PONTIAN: The new ruling that compels candidates campaigning in the Tanjung Piai by-election to obtain police permits for walkabouts is aimed at avoiding confrontations that could undermine public order, says Johor police chief Comm Datuk Mohd Kamarudin Md Din.

According to Comm Kamarudin, the application of such permits is also to allow the police to monitor political campaigns by respective parties.

"This is for us to ensure that there would not be an incident where contesting parties will meet at the same place and time, which could trigger provocation and threats to public order.

"I hope with this explanation, this issue can be accurately understood by everyone," he told reporters during a press conference at the Pontian police district headquarters on Wednesday (Nov 13).

Comm Kamarudin said no permit applications for campaigns had been rejected so far, adding that the application process was simple.

He pointed out that a total of 562 permits have been issued so far, which consisted of 124 permits for Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional (304), Gerakan (115), Faridah Abdul Ghaffar (7), Berjasa (8), and Ang Chuan Lock (4).

"So far every police permit was approved. There are no problems. The application is very simple as well, we just need 12 items to be filled up in the form."

Meanwhile, Comm Kamarudin said the police were very satisfied with campaigning during the Tanjung Piai by-election.

"So far, there are no big incidents taking place. The reports we received at present are in regards to billboards and flags which were vandalised. There are no violent incidents," he added.

The Tanjung Piai polls on Nov 16 will be a six-cornered fight between Pakatan's Karmaine Sardini, Barisan's Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng, Gerakan's Wendy Subramaniam, Pan Malaysian Islamic Front (Berjasa)'s Badhrulhisham Abdul Aziz, and two independent candidates Faridah Aryani Abdul Ghaffar and Dr Ang Chuan Lock.