Mp Emulate Singapore Public Broadcast Model For Malacca Polls

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PARLIAMENT | An opposition MP today urged the government to ensure equal media access for all parties involved in the Malacca state election.
Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Pakatan Harapan-Setiawangsa) said this in view of Putrajaya's decision to ban face-to-face campaigning and gatherings in Malacca from today, Oct 25.
"When Singapore went to polls last year, they introduced a platform for all competing parties.
"I urge the government to provide the same. We have social media, we can send letters, but there should be a common platform for all, like in other modern democracies.
"Be it Perikatan Nasional, BN or Pakatan Harapan, treat all fairly... This should be the reference point for future elections," he said.
Nik Nazmi was speaking during the debate on the motion to annul seven emergency ordinances.
During the Singapore parliamentary election last year, the Infocomm Media Development Authority introduced the Constituency Political Broadcasts (CPB) on public access television.

Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad
This was a "one-off" arrangement for Singapore’s 2020 election, in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Candidates were each allocated three minutes of airtime for single-member constituency candidates and up to 15 minutes for five-member group representative constituency candidates.
Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa, who is in charge of public broadcasters, did not respond to Nik Nazmi's suggestion during the winding-up speech.
Earlier, Nik Nazmi said Putrajaya's rules for the Malacca election campaign should at least allow candidates to meet voters, conduct house visits or hold small-scale gatherings.
He said what is required are protocols that are more strict than what was practised during the Sabah state election last year. - Mkini

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