Perak police chief debunks Sarawak Report’s fake news

(The Star) – Perak police chief Comm Datuk Hasnan Hassan has debunked an online news portal’s report that candidates must give 10 days’ notice before they are allowed to campaign in other constituencies.

“Under Section 24B(3) of the Election Offences Act 1954, contesting candidates or agents will be allowed to hold political talks throughout the GE14 campaign period in their contesting areas as long as they inform the police.

“Non-contesting politicians will have to apply for a permit under Section 9(1) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

“This is to prevent crowding of any hot seat by any politician,” he said here on Friday (April 27).

“The contesting candidate can invite anyone, he only needs to inform the police that there will be additional speakers.

“But if Najib, Dr Ahmad Zahid or Lim wants to set up a stage and hold ceramah in areas that they are not contesting, this will fall under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 and we will scrutinise the application.

“It is wrong to say that the police created new rules as claimed by some irresponsible parties,” he said.

Comm Hasnan also said that contesting candidates or agents have to fill a simple form to inform the police before holding ceramah so that police could monitor and adjust to avoid conflicts.

“All OCPDs in the state have been told to swiftly approve these applications provided all the needed details are intact.

“If there are applications for two or more ceramah sessions at the same place and time, then we will make the necessary adjustments to ensure there are no clashes,” he added.

He added that there would be 8,700 policemen in Perak to maintain peace and order.

It was reported earlier that Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said that Perak was one of the hot battlegrounds identified in GE14, with several constituencies such as Kuala Kangsar, Hilir Perak, Taiping and Ipoh that required close monitoring.