EC takes down hundreds of racist posters, banners in P. Pauh

The Election Commission (EC) monitoring teams for the Permatang Pauh by-election took down hundreds of posters, banners and buntings containing racist remarks in an operation today.

Acting Penang EC director Azizal Ahmad said the operation was mounted following a public report.

He said most of the campaign materials did not adhere to the campaign regulations as they contained racist remarks and personal attacks, besides having nothing to do with the contesting parties.

"Those who put up the campaign materials have committed an offence under Section 24A of the Election Offences Act 1954 and we will lodge a police report for further investigations," he told Bernama when contacted here.

He said the EC had deployed six monitoring teams, each comprising four officers, to monitor the campaign for the Permatang Pauh by-election.

"The monitoring operation will continue until tomorrow to ensure everything will run smoothly even though the campaign period will end by midnight tonight," he said.

Bernama checks found that most of the banners, buntings and posters taken down today were in Permatang Nibong, Kubang Semang and Penanti.

The Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election tomorrow sees a four-cornered fight between Suhaimi Sabudin (Barisan Nasional), Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR), Azman Shah Othman (PRM) and Salleh Isahak (Independent).

It is being held following the rejection of the petition for a royal pardon sought by the member of Parliament for the constituency, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim through his family members, thus causing him to lose his eligibility as an elected representative.