King: Politicians should uphold good values during campaign period

Reports by MAZWIN NIK ANIS, MARTIN CARVALHO, WANI MUTHIAH, RAHIMY RAHIM, JOSEPH KAOS Jr, R. SEKARAN, IMRAN HILMY, RAGANANTHINI VETHASALAM, JUNAID IBRAHIM, ALIZA SHAH, GERARD GIMINO, IYLIA MARSYA ISKANDAR and DURIE RAINER FONG

PETALING JAYA: Politicians should uphold the good values and avoid negative behaviour during the campaign period, said Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.

Comptroller of the Royal Household for Istana Negara Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said the King also advised that politicians must avoid provocation, defamation and slander during the period as it would only create chaos among the rakyat.

“These traits are also not only misguided from the true human path, but can also create chaos.

“Indeed, in His Majesty’s opinion, good cooperation from all parties is very important in addition to respecting and upholding the country’s judicial institutions as well as the system of Parliamentary Democracy and Constitutional Monarchy by making political cooperation between parties more harmonious,” Ahmad Fadil said in a statement yesterday.

He also said that the King had earlier met director of the security department Bukit Aman Home Affairs and Public Order, Datuk Seri Hazani Ghazali, on Wednesday for a briefing on the preparations for the 15th General Election.

“In the session, His Majesty agreed to receive a briefing regarding the preparations of the Royal Malaysian Police and related agencies for the travel period of the GE15 and preparedness to face the possibility of flooding, involving a total of 99,133 officers and members.

“In relation to GE15, His Majesty called on candidates and supporters of political parties to adopt a responsible approach throughout the campaigning period, starting from the nomination day on Nov 5,” he added.

Earlier, the Election Commission (EC) announced that the polling day for GE15 has been set for Nov 19.

It also announced that nomination day for candidates will be on Nov 5 and early voting on Nov 15.

This was decided in a special meeting on GE15 chaired by EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh at its headquarters yesterday.