The five full-page print advertisements commissioned by the Barisan Nasional today have drawn harsh criticism from other political parties and peoples' groups for their misrepresentation of the current political climate.

The Sunday editions of various local dailies carried five black and white advertisements depicting scenes of violence under the headings "Don't Let Hatred Win", "Don't Let Violence Triumph", "Don't Let Anarchy Rule", "No To Violence" and "Don't Let Mob Rule Lead Us" followed by the tagline "Vote for Peace and Stability. Vote Barisan Nasional".

The People's Manifesto Initiative has denounced the advertisements as provocative and inflammatory. Spokesperson Charles Santiago called upon the BN to address issues pertinent to the governing of the country in the election campaign rather than to harp on issues of violence.

"Creating a climate of fear is not the way to solicit for votes," he said. "By running these advertisements, the BN themselves are undermining the stability of the country. These advertisements do not send a good message to investors who wish to come to our country, and this will exacerbate our economic situation."

Santiago told malaysiakini that the group will lodge a police report on Tuesday morning, urging the police to take action against the BN for running such advertisements and may seek an injunction to stop further publication of the advertisements.

Democratic Action Party (DAP) secretary-general Lim Kit Siang has already lodged a police report against the BN for putting out the advertisements, alleging them to be inflammatory messages sought to intimidate the nine million voters and obstructing their right to vote freely and without coercion, in contravention of the Election Offences Act.

Lim said the DAP has decided to lodge police reports because the advertisements appear to have violated other laws, such as the Penal Code and the Sedition Act for criminal defamation and sedition.

"The BN advertisements are suggesting that the DAP leaders are mobsters, advocate violence and want anarchy, and these are highly seditious, as well as criminally defamatory," he said.

These threats appear to have had an impact on the public. Two out of four people solicited by malaysiakini for comments on the advertisements were quick to proclaim their support for the BN while another refused to comment, stating that "politics is dirty" and that "everyone will interpret the advertisements differently".

One voter, however, decried the advertisements as unfair. "It is only during elections that they run these pictures (of violence) but where they got the pictures from is another question."

Nevertheless, BN candidates are adamant that these advertisements represent the truth. MCA vice-president and incumbent Member of Parliament for Selayang Chan Kong Choy maintains that the advertisements are conveying the correct message to the people as the Opposition parties have advocated demonstrations in the streets.

Chan claims that the leaders of the Barisan Alternatif have been responsible for the violence at the demonstrations and that the advertisements merely served "to remind voters of the importance of the stability, prosperity and peace" brought about by the BN government.

Meanwhile, the newly-formed Centre for Independent Journalism (PUJI) has characterised the advertisements as "crude propaganda tools used with the intention to curtail a discussion of the political crisis by reducing it to a law and order situation".

"This recent installment of the ruling government's public advertisement campaign is no different in kind from those that have been run for the past year, " said PUJI coordinator Sharaad Kuttan.

"It essentially demonises the reformasi movement as one which unleashes uncontrollable passions leading to violence and anarchy. It also constructs a notion of patriotism and sovereignty based on a fear of external enemies."