THE opposition is mulling legal action against the Election Commission over the new requirement for police permits for walkabouts and door-to-door canvassing.

Opposition leader Ismail Sabri Yaakob said a motion has been filed with the Dewan Rakyat speaker.

“Tomorrow, Tanjung Karang (Noh Omar) will present the motion. We will also take this matter to court,” he told a press conference, attended by more than 15 opposition leaders, in the Parliament building today.

He said members of the opposition have met their lawyers to discuss the matter.

Asked about EC chief Azhar Azizan Harun’s statement that the issuance of permits falls under police’s jurisdiction and that the decision was that of cops, Ismail Sabri said the EC is responsible for advising the force on polls-related issues.

“The election authority is the EC. The EC has to advise police, and not the other way around. Elections are governed by the Elections Act.”

The Bera MP said the legal action, to determine whether the requirement for police permits is in accordance with the law, may be pursued after the Tanjung Piai by-election on Saturday.

Before new rules are implemented, he said, they must be brought to the Dewan Rakyat and get approval from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man urged the EC to immediately do away with the requirement.

Batang Sadong MP Nancy Shukri, from Gabungan Parti Sarawak, said such rules are archaic, and that the previous government had eased processes.

Azhar yesterday said: “In the case of Tg Piai, police have decided to impose a new requirement for permits, even for walkabouts and house-to-house visits.

“The EC has nothing to do with that requirement, and is not able to impose its will on police.” – November 13, 2019.