THE only form of physical campaigning allowed in the Malacca elections is the use of loudspeakers from vehicles at fixed times and with a police permit, the Election Commission (EC) said.

This is under its standard operating procedure (SOP) to curb the spread of Covid-19 during campaigning for the state elections, which began today with the filing of candidate nominations. Polling will be on November 20.

The EC said the SOP, which was approved by the Health Ministry yesterday, bans any form of public physical gathering.

This means there can be no ceramah, no door-to-door visits by candidates or supporters to canvas for votes and no walkabout activities.

“Candidates are expected to use online platforms by using social media and the mass media,” the EC said in a statement today.

On the use of loudspeakers from vehicles, this can only be done after the candidate obtains a police permit. 

The vehicle also cannot stop along its route so as to prevent crowds from gathering.

“The vehicle cannot stop at any point on its route to give a ceramah,” the EC said, adding that more details on the SOP can be obtained from its website.

Candidates who violate these rules will be subject to the Elections Offences Act 1954, it added.

This is the first time an election is being held after eight months of a nationwide state of emergency to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. 

It will also be the first time the traditional forms of physical campaigning –  nightly ceramah, house visits, market and coffee shop walkabouts – cannot be used, reducing candidates’ and parties’ visibility and leaving many to wonder if voter turnout will be affected.

Other SOP for the Malacca polls stipulate that candidates and their parties are only allowed to open one operations room per seat.

Smaller operations centres or gathering points for parties’ election machinery are not allowed.

The EC also said there are SOP for its officials to carry out their work such as checking ballot papers and ballot boxes as well as procedures on polling day and when votes are being vounted.

There are 28 state seats being contested in the polls, and the EC has a team of enforcement officers in each seat, it added.

All campaigning must end by 11.59pm on November 19. – November 8, 2021.