THE Election Commission has lashed out at Pakatan Harapan party workers who had harassed and intimidated a police vehicle in Rantau yesterday.

EC chairman Azhar Azizan Harun said such gangsterish behaviour should not have happened, and urged party leaders to do more to curb such actions among their members.

While police have opened investigations into the matter, Azhar said the EC too would be deciding tomorrow on what action the commission could take.

“This is a serious matter and it should not have happened.

“Trying to intimidate the police is an act of gangsterism.

“I am shocked that they did such an act to scare off the police and EC.

“I want leaders of all parties to control their members and supporters. This is a terrible thing, it’s as though there is no democracy in a free and fair election.

“Such acts must be stopped immediately. We can’t allow these things to continue, definitely not under my watch,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Azhar added that the EC will discuss this matter with legal experts in a meeting tomorrow to find out what action the commission can take against the culprits.

He said this was the first time such a thing had happened since he became the EC chief after the last general election.

In the incident yesterday, five PH election workers allegedly stopped a police vehicle for a “routine check about 6pm outside the SJK(C) Chung Hua voting centre in Rantau.

It is believed these men, all seen in t-shirts with PH logo, were checking for evidence of electoral fraud in favour of Barisan Nasional.

Video of the incident has gone viral on social media.

Negri Sembilan acting police chief Mohamad Mat Yusop has been reported as saying that the two policemen were on duty to control traffic and escort ballot papers.

“The two policemen agreed to let the vehicle be inspected as they did not want to cause a scene,” he said.

Police are investigating the matter and are looking for the five men. – April 14, 2019.