PAS will carry out 70% of its campaigning for the Malacca state elections through social media, PAS Central election director Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said.

Sanusi, who is also Kedah menteri besar, said this was because the standard operating procedure (SOP) for the polls to be issued by the Election Commission (EC) and the National Security Council would most likely not allow for conventional campaigning such as house-to-house visits, to curb the spread of Covid-19.

“The remaining 30% will comprise conventional campaigning. This may involve some visits, but I’m sure it won’t be as lively as before, due to Covid-19, (as we need to) take care of the SOP and we also want to avoid our staff risking themselves or even spreading the disease, so we will be active on social media,” he said while launching the PAS election machinery for the Malacca polls virtually tonight.

On seats set to be contested by PAS in the polls, Sanusi reiterated the statement by PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man yesterday, that negotiations involving Muakafat Nasional (MN) with Umno and Perikatan Nasional (PN) are still in progress.

“We have a platform that has been established by the leaders… we have PN, MN and now (we) are negotiating so that we have only straight fights in the Malacca polls. We hope these negotiations are successful, and this is what we are working on,” he said.

The EC has set the nomination date for the elections on November 8, early voting on November 16 and polling on November 20.

The elections are held following the dissolution of the Malacca state assembly on October 4, when four assemblymen withdrew their support for Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali. – Bernama, October 31, 2021.