THERE is a need for clear and fair procedures to allow ministers to campaign in elections during office hours, said Anwar Ibrahim.

The PKR president said ministers may spend the whole day campaigning due to the lack of proper guidelines.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday said the Election Commission (EC) should reconsider the restriction against ministers from campaigning during working hours.

Anwar said further discussion with the EC is required on the matter.

“That is now being considered but I think generally we got to be very clear on this, although I think the prime minister’s concern is that this seems to be disallowed at a disadvantage (to PH).

“I think there should be a process or procedure that could be deemed to be fair.

“I think if they want to do that (campaign all day while on duty) they should take leave but if they do it as part as a programme then probably it is acceptable,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a function at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia today.

Dr Mahathir said yesterday that it is unfair to bar ministers from campaigning during working hours.

He said ministers work beyond office hours and sometimes into the night, and this leaves them at a disadvantage as opposition leaders may have more time to campaign. – May 15, 2019.