KKB Polls: Only election offence so far was man displaying King's image, says EC

Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh. -Bernama filepic

HULU SELANGOR: There has only been one case of the Election Offences Act being breached so far during the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, says the Election Commission (EC).

EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh said the case involved a man displaying an image of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, during the campaign period.

The man has since been sentenced to a month’s jail and fined RM3,000 by a Magistrate’s Court here.

“So far, that’s the only case. There’s nothing else that breached the rules so far.

“This shows the campaign here is healthy and highly encouraged.

“There are just three days left for the campaign period and we hope for a mature contest,” Abdul Ghani said when met by reporters outside the early voting centre at the Royal Malaysian Police College multi-purpose hall here.

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On remarks made by PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan that Perikatan Nasional would file an election petition to the court if Pakatan won the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, Abdul Ghani said all quarters were free to do so.

“It’s up to the party themselves. The EC will accept the petition and facilitate the legal process,” he said.

Takiyuddin had claimed that Perikatan has evidence that the unity government has abused its funds, which it said amounted to bribing the voters.

There was controversy recently after Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming announced an allocation of RM5.21mil to the Hulu Selangor Municipal Council (MPHS).

However, Nga insisted that this did not violate the Election Offences Act 1954 as the allocation was announced before nomination day and not during the campaign period.

To this, Abdul Ghani said the EC had yet to call in Nga.

When asked if the minister would be called in soon, Abdul Ghani said he would leave it to the coming leadership, as his tenure as the EC chairman would be ending on Thursday (May 9).