PAKATAN Harapan and Barisan Nasional candidates both employed dirty election campaign tactics in the recent Sungai Kandis by-election, Bersih 2.0 said today in reminding political parties to refrain from using the same tactics in the Seri Setia and Balakong by-elections.

In its report on the Sungai Kandis by-election, Bersih 2.0 said the eventual winner, Zawawi Ahmad Mughni from PH, and BN’s Lokman Noor Adam, both violated election regulations during the campaigning period from July 21 to August 4.

Bersih 2.0 executive director Yap Swee Seng said among the offences committed included the abuse of government assets and programmes, and handing out goodies to influence voters.

“This is something that political parties and candidates need to look into and we hope the same election offences will not happen in the Seri Setia and Balakong by elections.

“We will monitor (the polls) and if we find any offences, we will lodge complaints to the relevant authorities, either the Election Commission (EC) or Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC),” he said at a press conference today.

During the Sg Kandis by-election campaign, Bersih 2.0 said Zawawi’s campaign involved activities like giving out free motorcycle engine oil to bikers and providing free medical check-ups and medicine to residents.

The electoral reform group also said Zawawi had abused government assets and events in at least four cases, campaigning for support in two public schools and at three government events while several ministers were found to have used official cars to get to nomination centres.

Lokman, meanwhile, was found to have committed an election offence by treating potential voters to food and drinks on two occasions.

Bersih 2.0 also said race and religious sentiments were played up to canvass for support in Lokman’s campaign.

It said inflammatory statements were accusing DAP of wanting to destroy Bumiputera and Malay communities, and of having a Christian agenda.

Yap said the EC must investigate these moves and take legal action.

He added the EC must also form a joint task force with the MACC to monitor bribery and corruption before, during and after an election.

“The EC’s enforcement team should not confine their role to just nomination day and polling day, because in between, they did very little in terms of monitoring campaign activities of all the candidates,” he said.

Bersih 2.0, however, praised the EC for improving several measures in the Sg Kandis by-election, including extending the voting time to 5.30pm instead of 5pm, and extending the campaign period to 14 days compared with 11 days in the 14th general election.

The EC had also increased the number of voting boxes from two to three in a station to accommodate more voters to cast at one time.

Bersih 2.0, however, urged the EC to beef up its enforcement team for the Balakong and Seri Setia by-elections and monitor campaign activities like ceramah, feasts and the giving out of goodies, instead of confining itself to removing illegal campaign materials.

Bersih 2.0 will deploy 18 observers in two by-elections, for which the campaign period kicked off today. The by-elections will be held on September 8 following a 21-day campaigning period. – August 18, 2018.