ALL Pakatan Harapan leaders should be mindful not to break any election laws and regulations when campaigning in the Cameron Highlands by-election, said Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

The Bersatu Youth chief said he would not leverage his position as youth and sports minister in the campaign to win the seat from Barisan Nasional.

The youngest minister in Malaysian history said he would even drive himself up the highlands instead of using a driver.

“The most important thing is we follow the standards and rules set by the Election Commission.

“I am going up there tomorrow. I am driving myself. We have to respect the stands set,” he told the media after the International Day of Persons with Disabilities programme in Kuala Lumpur.

Syed Saddiq was commenting on criticism, including by his predecessor Khairy Jamaluddin, the former youth and sports minister from BN, who had questioned how several PH ministers had gone up to Cameron Highlands in their official government capacity for scheduled events in the run-up to the by-election.

Another ‘scheduled’ visit by a minister/dep.min to Cameron Highlands. Nothing to do with the by-election. @art_harun https://t.co/Z2zbbYaSOL

— Khairy Jamaluddin (@Khairykj) January 11, 2019

Minister of Defence visits Cameron Highlands on an army chopper two days ago. Visit was “planned a long time ago,” according to him. K. pic.twitter.com/AN7K1wQUZY

— Khairy Jamaluddin (@Khairykj) January 12, 2019

The Cameron Highlands by-election campaign officially started yesterday. Polling day is on January 26.

Among those who had gone up the highlands recently were Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu, who travelled there on a military helicopter; and Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Minister Sim Tze Tzin, who announced the rebranding of Cameron Highlands agricultural products.

Meanwhile, Syed Saddiq praised EC chairman Azhar Azizan Harun for being stern about everyone having to follow the rules during the campaign.

“We can see that the EC has fangs now. I respect (Azhar) and fear him. If the warning has been given, then we must accept and comply,” the young Muar MP said.

Last week, Azhar issued a statement telling all quarters to to follow the laws and regulations, and observe campaigning ethics throughout the two-week campaign in Cameron Highlands.

He said there should be no giving away of presents or goodies; feasting; using race and religious sensitivities while campaigning; and using government machinery, assets or programmes.

Azhar also said the EC would station its officers at hotspots to curb vote buying, warning that stern action under the Election Offences Act would be taken if such activities were discovered.

He also said the EC was working closely with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the police to make sure nobody broke the law during the by-election.

The Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat in Pahang was declared vacant after M. Manogaran, who was DAP’s candidate in the 14th general election last year, won a court order to nullify the election of MIC’s C. Sivarraajh.

The election court had earlier found that BN had bought votes during the election campaign for Sivarraajh to win the seat.

Earlier, Syed Saddiq and Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail launched the “Increase Gold Medal” public fundraising initiative.

In form of an app, the fund will make it more convenient for the public to donate in support of Malaysian Paralympic athletes who are preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. – January 13, 2019.