Sg Bakap polls: 'Cops deployed for security, not spy on predictable PN'

PARLIAMENT | Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail dismissed opposition leaders' allegation that police were used to spy on their campaign activities at the Sungai Bakap by-election in Penang.

He claimed Perikatan Nasional was "so predictable" that the governing coalition did not have to spy on its strategies.

The heavy police presence that PN leaders were concerned about was deployed to ensure security during the by-election, he added.

"Pendang should not be worried because there is no secret or strategy on your side that could pose any threat (to Pakatan Harapan-BN campaign in Sungai Bakap),” Saifuddin (above) said during his winding-up speech on Suhakam annual report.

He was responding to Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) who urged the government to stop using authorities to pressure the opposition party during their election campaign.

"We are not even scared by you. All your strategies are so predictable, we can expect your every move.

"There is no need to use the police (to spy on PN)," added Saifuddin.

Don’t touch on 3R

Awang alleged that the police came to the PN office in Sungai Bakap and went through the party machinery's meeting minutes and strategy documents, while so many police were deployed to his recent ceramah.

"We are a political party that is legally registered. We are a legal organisation, so please respect our basic rights as a political party in this country," Awang told the Dewan Rakyat.

Saifuddin further said that the police have better things to do than spying on the opposition.

He also assured the opposition leader that he was free to carry out his campaign activities as long as they did not touch on 3R matters (race, religion and royalty).

"I assure you that you have nothing to worry about. If you want to campaign tonight, just go. No problem.

"You can talk about just anything, as long as they do not go into the 3R category. If you do, then the police will visit you," Saifuddin said.

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COMMENT | How are candidates in Sg Bakap faring?