DAP wants 21-day campaign in Sarawak
By Stephanie Sta Maria, Free Malaysia Today
KUALA LUMPUR: DAP has joined forces with PAS in pushing for a 21-day campaign period in the upcoming Sarawak election.
The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly will be dissolved today to pave the way for the 10th state election.
In a statement today, Bukit Bendera MP, Liew Chin Tong, explained that a longer campaign period was necessary for voters to understand the platforms of all contesting parties.
“On several occasions, the opposition and the civil society, especially Bersih (Coalition for Clean and Fair Election) have consistently called for a 21-day campaign period,” he said.
Liew, who was a former member of Bersih’s steering committee, pointed out that Malaysia’s first election in 1959 had a 42-day campaign period and 21 days was only half of that.
Earlier this month, PAS had issued a similar call with its central committee member, Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin, saying that a longer campaign period was necessary as travel in Sarawak is time-consuming and the oppposition didn’t have the luxury of helicopters unlike Barisan Nasional.
Liew echoed his sentiment, saying, “Coupled with a biased government-controlled media, the Election Commission (EC) must be seen ensuring a campaign period sufficient for the campaigners from both sides of the divide to reach the voters.
“I would like to remind the EC that it is its obligation to ensure fair play in the campaign. Any period shorter than 21 days would be seen as the EC’s attempt to enhance BN’s advantage.”
