March 1: Polls round-up

Malaysiakini brings you the latest election news and snippets from around the web. Findout who is up to what and where; who's saying what about who and why; and who's planning what against who and how!

Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon reminded voters not to place bets on who would win in the March 8 general election as it could affect the democratic process.

He said that the activities - believed to be the work of a syndicate or certain group - would affect the real voting process.

"Don't bet on the election results and who will win because in a democratic system, the votes obtained must portray the rakyat's intention," he said.

Popular local singer Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin has urged voters to think what is best for them and future generations comes polling day on March 8.

"Make the best decision based on what the government has given so that we can live comfortably and peacefully," she said at a Barisan Nasional function.

She and her businessperson husband Khalid Mohd Jiwa were invited to watch Gemas state seat candidate Zainab Nasir campaigned by their personal friend Deputy Energy, Water and Communications Minister Shaziman Abu Mansor, who is defending the Tampin parliamentary seat.

All National Service (NS) trainers are allowed to leave their camps to cast votes on the polling day, said NS Training Programme Director-General Abdul Hadi Awang Kechil.

"The management will not deny them their right to vote. We are confident this will not interfere with the smooth running of the camps," he was quoted as saying.

Barisan Nasional candidates contesting in the five state seats under the Kangar parliamentary constituency will go back to ‘class’ to brush up on their English Language and leadership skills after the polls.

Umno secretary-general and Kangar seat incumbent Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said the candidates would also undergo business and financing lessons.

"I want them to be able to speak well in English to be able to better promote Perlis. They should also have basic knowledge in financing to help them budget their official expenses," he told reporters.

Deputy Internal Security Minister Mohd Johari Baharum said the ministry would act against those who publish books and produce VCDs and DVD videos during the campaign period to spread lies.

"Although the production of books, VCDs and DVDs are allowed during the campaign period, it should not jeopardise unity and public order," he said.

DAP chairperson and Bukit Gelugor candidate Karpal Singh has denied insulting the police at a talk in Air Itam which had resulted in a police report being lodged against him and party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

"Neither Guan Eng nor I have attended any talk in Air Itam so far," Karpal Singh said, adding that he was campaigning in Seri Delima at the time when the reports were lodged.

Election Commission secretary Kamaruzaman Mohd Noor said the printing process of the ballot papers was completed by Feb 28 and had been sent to district police stations nationwide for safekeeping until polling day.

He added that the police would place the papers under lock and key for safekeeping until it is time for polling.

The usual process would be for the police to pass the ballot papers to the respective returning officers (RO) a day or two before polling for them to be checked and verified.

The ROs then would distribute the papers accordingly to all polling centres.

Kelantan Election Commission director Abdul Rahim Md Salleh has alleged that several candidates have misused the Parent-Teacher Association meetings as a platform for campaigning based on complaints received from parents who attended the meeting.

"We have summoned the candidates involved and reminded him not to resort to such forms of campaigning. They were also told to use the right channel to attract voters," he said.

PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat defended party president Abdul Hadi Awang’s statement that character assassination is allowed during campaigning based on Islamic principles.

The Kelantan Meneri Besar said that Hadi Awang is a pious person and knows what he’s saying.

"I do agree with what he said. In the course of finding the truth and choosing our leaders, we must resort to character assassination. However I am asking the press to stop discussing the issue as it will make things worst," he said.