Mp Calls For 1 Day Campaign Silence Instead Of 3

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Sany Hamzan (left) said one day’s silence should be enough, while Wan Ahmad Fayhsal said the election campaign period should be extended.PETALING JAYA: A proposal for a three-day campaign silence period before polling day has been criticised by an MP from Perikatan Nasional who says the current election campaign period is too short.
Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal said the current 14-day period provided for campaigning was already insufficient and he was in favour of extending it.
In contrast, Hulu Langat MP Sany Hamzan of Pakatan Harapan supported the proposal for a longer campaign silence period, saying it would give voters time to reflect on their options.
“However, three days is a little too long. Shortening it to a day before polling should be good,” he told FMT.
The two MPs were commenting on a proposal by former Election Commission deputy chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar to prolong the campaign silence period to three days to create a more conducive and peaceful environment ahead of the polls.
Under current law, political campaigns must end at midnight the day before polling.
Wan Ahmad also said political campaigning appeared to go on throughout the year, to which Wan Fayhsal said: “I do not agree with that.”
Wan Fayhsal, who is the Machang MP, said campaigning was specific to that particular election period. “For example, a manifesto, you don’t promote it throughout the year.”
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia political analyst Russli Kamaruddin welcomed Wan Ahmad’s idea, saying campaigning could be counterproductive to unity.
“Various unethical stunts and slanderous statements have been made (on the campaign trail), which can lead to disharmony,” he said.
He also proposed to extend the silence or cooling-off period to a day after the polls conclude to prevent excessive celebrations by political parties and their supporters.
In the past, Indonesia has barred political parties from holding rallies or carrying messages related to polls after elections. - FMT

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