ALL candidates need permits for walkabouts conducted during the campaign period but they only needed to apply once said Bukit Aman

Its general election (GE) operations director Hazani Ghazali said the permit was valid for the walkabout they conduct in the constituency they are contesting in.

However, he said, the candidates will have to apply for two permits if the constituency straddles two police districts, permits need to be obtained from both district police headquarters.

“These permits will allow police to ensure the candidate’s activities go on smoothly.”

“Candidates must take appropriate action to avoid bumping into each other during campaigns, or issuing verbal or physical provocations during walkabouts,” Hazani said in a statement to clarify complaints about the permits from candidates.

Hazani said the police was enforcing Subsection 24B (3) of the Election Offences Act which required a candidate or his election agent, during the campaign period to give police notice about any meeting or gathering.

DAP elections director Liew Chin Tong yesterday had complained the permit requirement was cramping campaigning.

He said there had not been such a requirement in previous years.

The Iskandar Puteri candidate called on the Election Commission to ensure candidates could move with ease on the campaign trail.

Earlier today, Liew’s fellow party member Gobind Singh Deo told the police to do away with the requirement for election candidates to obtain permits to go on walkabouts when campaigning.

He told the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani the requirement made no sense as the campaign period was meant to allow candidates to introduce themselves to voters. – November 11, 2022.