GEORGETOWN, April 22 – Six by-election campaign enforcement teams will assist in monitoring the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election process, says Penang Election Commission (EC) acting director, Azizal Ahmad. He said each team would have five members comprising a team leader, policeman, Seberang Perai Municipal Council representative and representatives of the parties contesting.
He said two teams would be mobilised at the Seberang Jaya, Permatang Pasir and Penanti state constituencies. “They are assigned to patrol the state constituencies and monitor running of the campaign, in terms of display of posters and talks, and take action against those who fail to comply with EC-set regulations. “The six teams will start duty after nomination day (April 25),” said Azizal when contacted by BERNAMA in George Town, Wednesday.
On preparations for nomination day, he said the EC would provide three tents for party supporters in the compound of the National Youth Training Institute (IKBN) at Berapit Seberang Perai Tengah. Each candidate will only be allowed to bring in 100 supporters into the compound. Azizal said a total of 1,099 EC officers would be assigned during the by-election, adding that 27 regional polling centres would be opened for the by-election.
The Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency has 71,820 registered voters. The Permatang Pauh by-election is held following the disqualifiation of incumbent MP Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim after the Pardons Board’s rejection of his family petition for a royal pardon over his sodomy conviction. Anwar is now serving a five-year jail sentence at the Sungai Buloh Prison, Selangor. In the 2013 General Election, Anwar retained the Permatang Pauh seat after defeating Barisan Nasional candidate, Dr Mazlan Ismail with a majority of 11,721 votes.
