The second day of debate on the proposed amendments to the 1954 Election Offences Act was again turned into a match between Umno and PAS members of parliament who accused each other of being violent in by-election campaigns.

The Election Offences (Amendment) Bill 2002, tabled by de facto Law Minister Dr Rais Yatim on Monday, seek to introduce 28 amendments in a bid to enforce better discipline among election candidates and campaigners.

The amendments spell tighter rules and regulations and higher penalties such as fines and jail terms for offenders. The new laws also make it an offence for politicians and parties to make seditious remarks, be they on posters, banners or during ceramah (political talks).

It also seek to penalise election commission officers who fail to carry out their duties in a fair manner.

During his turn to debate the bill, Yusof Yacob (BN-Sipitang) defended the need for the amendments as election campaigns by the opposition were often violent.

He backed his claims by reminding the House that the opposition was unruly during the tabling of the 2000 government's budget by former finance minister Daim Zainuddin.

"They behaved as though they were possessed," he said, referring to a shouting protest by several opposition MPs when Daim touched on Terengganu's oil royalty.

The issue has been a thorn in the flesh for PAS as the federal government had withdrawn the oil royalty when the Muslim-based party took over the state in 1999.

Syed Azman Syed Ahmad (PAS-Kuala Terengganu) immediately retorted by bringing up the incident in which Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaacob was caught behaving "indecently" on camera.

He was depicted making indecent gestures in the Sanggang by-election in November last year. The pictures were later made a political issue at the Ketari by-election in March.

In response, Yusof argued that the incident was less offensive than that of the opposition party. "This is not a problem...what is worse is trying to mislead people with religion such as the Kelantan menteri besar calling God a gangster (samseng)," he argued.

His fellow back-bencher, Jamaluddin Jarjis (BN-Rompin) also raised the matter of an opposition member who allegedly lifted his sarong to expose himself to Puteri Umno campaigners.

"What about the PAS leader who was indecent [during the Anak Bukit by-election in July]?" he asked.

Court case

At this juncture, House speaker Mohamed Zahir Ismail interjected, "The case is already in court. It is sub judice to discuss it."

The discussion then reverted to the Pahang menteri besar's case when Mohamad Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) defended Adnan's actions by saying he was "provoked".

"How come a small incident like this is made into a big affair? People do not remember his good deeds," he said.

Not to be left out of the debate, Ismail Noh (PAS-Pasir Mas) said that in 1969 Umno organised a youth movement called "Pemuda Tahan Lasak". He said the aggressive group had burnt down PAS' pondok panas (canvassing booth) during that year's election.

Speaker Mohamad Zahir had to cut in more than once to cool the heated rows. "There is no point bringing up these incidences," he urged.

Nonetheless, the MPs from both sides of the political fence paid little heed to him on most occasions.