Tense Confrontation With Ec Observers At Pn Ceramah Cops Called In

---

 



JOHOR POLLS | A Perikatan Nasional (PN) ceramah in Muar last night turned tense after event organisers engaged in a confrontation with Election Commission (EC) observers.
A group of EC observers had confronted the organisers at around 10pm over the permit of the ceramah, which was meant for a religious talk but had turned into political speeches.
The ceramah was held at a resort in Parit Keroma Laut which featured Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Idris Ahmad, who is from PAS, and the party's Maharani candidate Abdul Azzi Talib.
PN officials did not deny the permit issue but instead asked for the EC observers, clad in the yellow vests with the EC logo, to verify their identity.
The group were wearing caps with the label "PP-KPR" which stands for "Pasukan Penguatkuasa Kempen Pilihan Raya" (election campaign enforcement team).
Upon finding out that one of their members was using someone else's EC tag, the PN official accused him of fraud and threatened to conduct a citizen's arrest, turning the tables on the group.
The PN officials did not take issue with other members of the group as their credentials checked out, but a heated argument ensued as they latched on to the one who didn't have his own tag.
This prompted Bersatu Supreme Council member Mohd Rafiq Mohd Abdullah to intervene, asking his party members to let the group leave and lodge a police report later.
However, a crowd of 20 people had assembled, and they refused to allow the one with a tag that wasn't his to leave.
Other members of the EC group explained that he was using a borrowed tag as his own tag was not ready, but the PN officials won't let him leave, insisting that he wait until the police arrive.
According to EC rules, an EC enforcement team does not only comprise EC officials, police and local council representatives but also observers who are appointed from among the representatives of political parties and candidates.
The PN officials were heard discussing if the person with the borrowed tag was a representative from Pejuang or BN.
A team of police officers later arrived at the scene and advised the two groups not to escalate the situation before dispersing them.
Seeking legal advice
Mohd Rafiq, when met by Malaysiakini later, said they will seek advice from PN legal advisers.
"This incident happened when an EC observer was found to be using someone else's authority tag.
"However, we have settled the matter in a peaceful manner. And we will decide whether to lodge a police report,” he said, adding that he wanted campaigners to be vigilant to avoid a repeat of an "imposter" situation.
PAS' Abdul Aziz, who is contesting under PN's banner, is facing five other contenders in Maharani.
They are incumbent Nor Hayati Bachok who is from Pakatan Harapan, Parti Bangsa Malaysia's (PBM) Hanis Asmui, Pejuang's Riad Ahmad, BN's Noor Farah Shamsudin and independent candidate Lim Kim Joo.
In the 2018 general election, Nor Hayati won the Maharani seat with a 5,674-vote majority.
Campaigning for the Johor polls kicked off on Feb 26. Johoreans will go to the polls on March 12. - Mkini

---