Campaign gets nasty with defaced billboards
(The Star) – Election billboards have been defaced and negative campaign banners are sprouting as voters get ready to go to the polls for the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary by-election tomorrow.
Independent candidate Datuk Huan Cheng Guan found his billboards slashed and his portrait smeared with red paint.
The Parti Cinta Malaysia representative was upset that his billboards at Jalan Yeap Chor Ee, Padang Tembak junction and around the Gelugor roundabout had been defaced.
“I don’t understand why this was done. I am an Independent candidate from a small party,” the 53-year-old lamented during a press conference in Air Itam.
“My banner that was put up outside the DAP headquarters was removed within 24 hours,” he added.
At least three banners in Chinese running down MCA were also put up.
Penang MCA deputy chairman Tan Teik Cheng said they received a public tip-off over the matter at about 10am yesterday.
“This is an act of political cowardice. We condemn such an underhanded tactic to run us down,” he said.
Also at Lebuhraya Thean Teik to investigate the matter were Penang MCA secretary Dr Tan Chuan Hong and Penang MCA new media bureau deputy chief Tan Khai Beng.
In another development, Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer lodged a report at the Jelutong police station after several inflammatory banners were found.
Rayer and a campaign assistant for by-election candidate Ramkarpal Singh collected four banners with inflamatory words.
