KUALA LUMPUR: A titanic clash of political powers may be under way in the Melaka election, but to Amhariah Salleh, 60, it sure doesn't feel like it.
She felt that the restrictive standard operating procedures (SOP) for campaigning, put in place to reduce the chances of Covid-19 transmissions, had limited interactions between candidates and voters and had, in many ways, curbed her access to better information.
For instance, the Telok Mas resident was only recently informed of Pas's venture under the Perikatan Nasional ticket, amid talks among friends who were unsure whether the Islamic party would run in the state election.
"I haven't made up my mind yet on who to vote for next week because I don't know who the candidates are at my constituency. I only see posters and banners of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Is he contesting here?
"I would really like to get to know the candidates," she said.
"Can I suggest for the candidates to send pamphlets and newspapers to our mailbox?"
Amhariah was not alone as similar grouses had been voiced by political parties ahead of the nomination day.
Yesterday, Melaka PKR chairman Datuk Halim Bachik urged the Election Commission (EC) to reconsider relaxing the tight SOP, which he feared could result in a low voter turnout during polling day on Nov 20.
He said the somber campaigning mood since Monday would adversely influence people's disposition on the need to cast their votes.
"The EC needs to rethink what would happen if only 30 or 35 per cent of voters turn up on polling day.
"Will the winning candidate truly represent the majority when not even 70 per cent of voters had cast their ballots?
"Melaka is already under Phase 4 of the National Recovery Plan. Schools, offices and supermarkets have been reopened and sports and social events are allowed," he said.
Halim suggested that walkabouts be allowed with less than five people at any one time at a permitted location.
However, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali said the campaigning restrictions in place for the Melaka elections were crucial to prevent a surge in Covid-19 cases.
He said it would be wise for everyone to adhere to the SOP put in place by the commission so that the polls could proceed safely while minimising the risk of Covid-19 transmission.
"We need to learn from the experiences of the Sabah election.
"This is why the health minister (Khairy Jamaluddin) and the Health Ministry had repeatedly stressed on the importance of complying with the SOP.
"This is for everyone's safety. We don't want a repeat of what happened in Sabah," he said.
On Monday, EC chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh reiterated his confidence that the voter turnout would hover at about 70 per cent despite the SOP being in place.
He had urged candidates to get creative in devising their campaign strategies.
Candidates were banned from holding house visits, gatherings and walkabouts.
They were, however, allowed to distribute their pamphlets to mailboxes and use loudspeakers on moving vehicles for campaigning.
At a press conference yesterday, DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke also described the EC's ban on physical events as a "slap in the face" and claimed it posed a challenge to the party's traditional method of gathering supporters and gaining voters.
He said ceramah sessions, for example, had helped the party collect funds from their supporters and served as a platform to introduce their candidates.
He, however, affirmed the party's adherence to the tight SOP by utilising existing online platforms to hold digital forums and talk shows, on top of promoting their bank account details for donations. -- Additional reporting by Teh Athira Yusof
