GOVT SATISFIED WITH NO-CAMPAIGNING RULE IN STATE BY-ELECTION

BUKIT MERTAJAM (Malaysia), Aug 25 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister
Muhyiddin Yassin is satisfied with the enforcement of the Election Commission's
(EC) rule prohibiting campaigning on polling day in Tuesday's Permatang Pasir
state by-election in northern state of Penang.

He also called on the EC to enforce the regulation in future elections to
prevent untoward incidents on polling day.

He also said that the enforcement of the rule was effective in easing
tensions among supporters of contesting parties at polling centres.

"The EC should consider enforcing this rule in other elections or
by-elections to create a more orderly atmosphere at polling centres," he told
reporters after visiting several polling centres in Permatang Pasir Tuesday.

The Deputy Prime Minister said he found that the atmosphere in Tuesday's
by-election was more orderly compared to the situation in Manik Urai state
by-election in northeast state of Kelantan last month due to the enforcement of
the no-campaigning rule.

Muhyiddin also said that the EC could consider holding briefing sessions for
political parties on the enforcement of the rule.

On claims of phantom voters in the by-election, he said in many cases the
voters who were said to be phantom voters were registered in an area but no
longer lived there.

He said that members of the public could file objections to the electoral
roll when it was up for display by the EC.

Muhyiddin also expressed satisfaction over the voter turnout which was at 50
per cent as of 2pm.

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin said he received feedback from the people who were
concerned over the political culture brought by opposition parties.

"The people are worried over what they describe as a foreign political
culture being practised by the opposition parties and they are not comfortable
with it," he said.

The by-election, which is called following the death of assemblyman Mohd
Hamdan Abdul Rahman of PAS on July 31, is seeing a straight fight between
ruling National Front or Barisan Nasional (BN)'s Rohaizat Othman, 38, and
opposition Islamist Parti SeMalaysia (PAS)' Mohd Salleh Man, 52.
-- BERNAMA