The Election Commission (EC) today advised political parties not to campaign in the Tenang state constituency in Johor before the nomination date on Jan 22.

"Wait for the campaign period, and then campaign in accordance with the regulations of the EC, police and the local authorities," EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said.

He was asked to comment on allegations of campaigning and "ceramah" (talks) being held by political parties in the constituency prior to the nomination date.

Polling is on Jan 30 in the by-election, necessitated by the death of the assemblyperson Sulaiman Taha of the Barisan Nasional (BN), on Dec 17 last year.

Abdul Aziz said any campaigning which was held before nomination would be subject to the laws enforced by the police and the local authorities.

The EC would have no responsibility in the matter until after nomination, he added.

Asked whether anyone had collected the nomination forms, Abdul Aziz said that as of yesterday no one had bought the forms.

Sulaiman had retained the seat in the 2008 general election with a 2,492-vote majority, beating Mohd Saim Siran of PAS.

- Bernama