Muhyiddin: BN always complies with election laws

(The Sun) Barisan Nasional (BN) has always complied by whatever conditions imposed by the Election Commission (EC) during by-elections, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.

However, he expressed hope that the EC would monitor closely the activities of opposition parties and their supporters so that they adhere to the laws too.

He said while BN was responsible and law-abiding, the actions of some political parties have created unease and tension among voters and election workers during campaigning and on polling day.

"While the EC had decided not to allow the setting up of pondok panas outside voting centres, there were political parties who asked their supporters to gather there in the thousands.

"I hope the EC would monitor the situation closely," he said after announcing the name of the 10th National Laureate at his office here today.

Muhyiddin was asked to comment on the Permatang Pasir state assembly seat in Penang, which fell vacant after the death of its incumbent Datuk Mohd Hamdan Abdul Rahman from PAS on July 31.

Nomination for the state seat has been fixed on Aug 17, followed by polling is on Aug 25.

On EC’s call for political parties to limit the number of supporters entering a state constituency during by-elections to overcome traffic congestion problem, Muhyiddin said BN had always limited its number of supporters at by-elections.

"We don’t have too many supporters at the polling centres. We abide by the advice. We just want voters to turn up to vote.

"This has always been the situation on our (BN) side but then, we don't know if the oppositions feel the same. They had previously created tension," he added.

Muhyiddin who is also BN election machinery director refused to divulge methods to be used by the party in Permatang Pasir to woo voters, taking into account that most voters in the constituency were young.