Sungai Bakap campaign must be clean and fair, says PKR deputy info chief

NIBONG TEBAL: There is no point in campaigning in a disgraceful and demoralising manner during the Sungai Bakap by-election, said Datuk Ramanan Ramakrishnan.

The PKR deputy information chief said that vandalising campaign materials is not a principle one should uphold during elections.

"I have been made aware of it (the alleged sabotage).

"I urge that we campaign maturely.

"If we campaign like this, it will cause anger and could even result in fights.

"This is not a principle that we should set for the younger generation who are observing us," he said during a press conference at the cooperative event under the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry held at the Perda community hall in Padang Lalang on Saturday (June 29).

Ramanan, the deputy minister, was responding to a question from the press regarding the alleged sabotage of the Unity Government's machinery’s campaign for the Sungai Bakap state by-election, involving the damaging of Pakatan Harapan buntings and flags.

He said it should be a clean and fair election.

"There is no point in us campaigning in this manner—it is disgraceful and demoralising.

"Elections come and go, but we will still be here.

"How can we face each other if we do this to our own neighbours?" he asked.

On Friday (June 28), Penang police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said that they had received a report regarding vandalised campaign materials belonging to a political party, marking the first such incident since the campaign period for the Sungai Bakap state by-election began on Saturday (June 22).

He added that the police have opened an investigation paper under Section 427 of the Penal Code.

Penang PKR Youth had lodged a police report alleging sabotage of the Unity Government's machinery’s campaign.

Penang PKR Youth chief Fadzli Roslan claimed that 38 buntings and 53 flags placed around Bandar Tasek Mutiara, Simpang Ampat, were taken down by irresponsible parties, with some even thrown into drains.

When asked about the Indian community's support in Sungai Bakap during this by-election, Ramanan said they have received strong support towards Pakatan Harapan.

"There is a new belief in the current Federal Government.

"They have shown good support," he said.

Pakatan Harapan's candidate Dr Joohari Ariffin is in a straight fight with Perikatan Nasional's candidate Abidin Ismail for the Sungai Bakap state seat during this by-election on July 6.

The by-election was held following the death of incumbent Nor Zamri Latiff on May 24 due to stomach inflammation.