Be more professional, Pahang Pas tells authorities

BENTONG - Pahang Pas information chief Mohd Tarmizi Yahaya asks for authorities to take a more professional safety approach in the Pelangai state assembly by-election.

He said there were complaints from party machinery who felt uneasy after the candidate nomination primarily in Felda areas.

“Actually, maintaining security and disrupting movement is different, (for) safety (they) do not need to be too close to us. Right now, they follow us when we are campaigning from home to home, creating unrest among members.

“It causes members of the public to be afraid to approach our machinery as police are constantly escorting us, police personnel should not take such actions, they are only required to protect public safety, the concept of safety is broad and does not need to follow the machinery exclusively unless there were reports and such,” the Panching Assemblyman said.

Tarmizi said this following the statement of its secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan who claimed there was an unusual presence of authorities in campaign activities organised by the party in the Pelangai by-election campaigns.

He said the disturbance did not happen to all members, but only several of the machinery were followed by security, but it had disrupted the campaign process of the party.

He urged the police to act fairly to any parties contesting throughout the campaign period.

The police should not follow any party machinery movement unless there was a report or a place designated as hot areas.

“However, if the areas for example are Felda areas it is unnecessary as we are not provoking a fight and such. We are campaigning in a good manner, no issue of police intervening due to safety reasons and the Pelangai state assembly is a peaceful area,” he said.

PN candidate Kasim Samat personally said the presence of police did not put pressure on him, and even admitted there were complaints from the party machinery.

“Personally, I am on the side of candidates who did not receive any interference and they were friendly, shaking hands with me.

“I thought well as they (police) wouldn’t (bother) me as this is my area, my own space, they are all my friends,” he added.