Permatang Pauh: Don't touch on sensitive issues, police warns

The police Saturday warned political parties and candidates contesting in the Permatang Pauh Parliamentary by-election against raising religious and racist issues when campaigning.

Penang police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said that they would not compromise with those who raised issues that could jeopardise the security and public order.

"The police guarantee security and public order in the constituency during the campaign period," he told reporters after the nomination process for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election at the National Youth Skills Institute (IKBN) Bukit Mertajam, here.

The by-election witnessed a four-cornered fight between candidates from Barisan Nasional (BN), PKR, Parti Rakyat Malaysia and an Independent.

BN candidate Suhaimi Sabudin will be challenged by PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Salleh Isahak (Independent) and Azman Shah Othman from Parti Rakyat Malaysia.

Abdul Rahim said the nomination process went on smoothly, although it was attended by over 10,000 supporters.

On permits to hold ceramah, he said, the police have yet to receive any application from any political party and candidates.

"I advise them (political parties) to apply for permits to hold ceramah during the campaign period," he said.

On the use of loudspeakers by some of the supporters outside the nomination centre, Abdul Rahim said the police would study to see if they broke any law by using loudspeakers.

The Permatang Pauh Parliamentary by-election was called after the incumbent Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was disqualified as an elected representative after a petition of royal pardon against his imprisonment filed by his family was rejected by the Pardons Board.

Anwar is currently serving a five-year imprisonment at the Sungai Buloh Prison, Selangor for sodomising his former personal assistant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

The Election Commission fixed polling day on May 7.