NOVEMBER 3 — Incumbent Sembrong Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has reminded the 15th General Election (GE15) candidates contesting the seat to avoid playing up racial or religious sentiments in their campaign trail to maintain the harmony of the community in the area.
The caretaker defence minister said candidates contesting the Sembrong seat needed to be sensitive to Sembrong’s situation, which consists of a multi-racial and multi-religious community that has been living in peace and harmony for a long time.
But it should be a reminder to all candidates contesting all parliamentary seats, without exception.
It is offence to do any act or make any statement “with a view or with a tendency to promote feelings of ill-will, discontent or hostility between persons of the same race or different races or of the same class or different classes of the population of Malaysia in order to induce any elector or voter to vote or refrain from voting at an election or to procure or endeavour to procure the election of any person”.
The acts or statement if committed or made constitutes an electoral offence under Section 4A of the Election Offences Act 1956 (Revised 1969) punishable, on conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to a fine not exceeding RM10,000 or to both imprisonment and fine.
The section was inserted by way of amendment to the Act in 2002 which came into force on January 16, 2003 [PU(B) 16/2003]. The offence is promoting feelings of ill-will or hostility.
So, let candidates for the GE15 beware.
And let the relevant authorities enforce the law without fear and favour.
It is for the police to investigate offences under the Act and the prosecution to prosecute if there is prima facie evidence.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or organisation and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.