SELANGOR Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari has refuted claims that the Aidilfitri open house by the state government in Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) town yesterday violated the provisions of the Election Offences Act 1954.

He explained that there were no campaign elements in the programme, and it was not just confined to KKB residents but open to all Selangor folk.

“The programme is held on a rotation basis. Previously, it was held across all districts but we chose this area because it happens to be the first location of the Rumpun Selangor programme by the Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

“Looking at the positive response, we decided to hold the open house here as the Chinese New Year celebration recently took place in Dengkil or in the Sepang district. Perhaps for the Merdeka Day celebration, we can rotate the location to get closer to the community,” he was quoted as saying in news reports.

Last Friday, electoral watchdog Bersih questioned the Selangor government’s decision to host the open house in Kuala Kubu Baharu during election time.

The Bersih steering committee said such an event could be in conflict with many provisions in the Election Offences Act 1954 (AKPR).

“Any political parties or candidates who contest in this by-election should not organise any open house because it could be in conflict with AKPR,” it said in a statement today.

Bersih said all parties running for the seat, especially the Selangor and federal governments, must comply with campaign ethics for a clean and fair election.

The Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, scheduled for May 11, will witness a contest between four candidates.

They are Pang Sock Tao from PH, Khairul Azhari Saut (PN), Hafizah Zainuddin (PRM) and an independent candidate, Nyau Ke Xin.

The by-election was triggered by the death of the constituency’s three-term assemblyman from DAP, Lee Kee Hiong. – April 28, 2024