FOUR police reports have been lodged in connection to the safety of Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi, Kedah police chief Fisol Salleh said.

According to Fisol, following the reports, police have called up four individuals to record their statements for issuing such statements while another four individuals who lodged police reports have also been contacted by the police.

“We called up the individuals involved to clarify what was said during a campaign recently and police have also recorded statements from four individuals who lodged the police reports,” he told reporters after inspecting the voting process at the Kedah police contingent headquarters which ended at 5pm today.

He said the case would be investigated under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

Fisol said police have not received any reports with regard to the safety or threats to candidates contesting in the election, supporters of parties or members of the public.

“However, police are always ready for any eventuality. So far there has been no provocation or clashes and we have only received 246 police reports related to damaged posters and 18 investigation papers have been opened,” he said.

Yesterday, social media was abuzz with a speech by a Kedah (Alor Setar) member of parliament who claimed that Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi did not attend a Mega Perikatan Nasional (PN) campaign at the Sungai Petani Public Field on Sunday for safety reasons.

IN TERENGGANU, 232 police reports were received throughout the election campaign period for the state election and Kuala Terengganu Parliamentary seat by-election.

Terengganu police chief Mazli Mazlan said from the total, 10 investigation papers have been opened and seven have been sent to the state prosecution director for further action while three cases are still under investigation.

“Most of the reports received involved slander, damaged campaign materials like party flags and posters but no arrests were made. Only one report was received involving a PAS candidate who is contesting in the election on August 4,” he said during a press conference at the Terengganu police headquarters today.

IN PENANG, police have opened 12 investigation papers involving slander and damaged posters and banners belonging to political parties.

Penang police chief Khaw Kok Chin said police were also investigating a statement involving slander and one case of theft involving a party’s flag and banner.

“The cases are believed to have started from the first day of campaigning which was July 29 until last night,” he said.

The state elections will be held in six states simultaneously on Saturday involving 36 state assembly seats in Kedah, Kelantan (45), Terengganu (32), Penang (40) Selangor (56) and Negri Sembilan (36). – Bernama, August 8, 2023.