KUALA LUMPUR, May 1 — Council workers in Yong Peng, Johor erred in cutting out Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s likeness from a Pakatan Harapan election billboard, said Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

Unidentified workers were recorded carving out the former prime minister’s face yesterday, ostensibly over a violation of the Election Commission’s rule prohibiting the use of images other than party leaders and candidates in campaign materials.

The Umno vice president said the matter should have been handled differently, according to a report on the Star Online news portal.

"I don’t agree and I don’t like what the enforcement officers have done,” Hishammuddin was quoted as saying.

"There are many ways to enforce the rules and regulations, but it is not proper to cut out the face of Dr Mahathir from the billboard.

He added that if the billboard was in violation of the EC’s rules, it should have been removed entirely instead of cutting out the PH chairman’s face.

Hishammuddin then urged enforcers to avoid similar action in the future, regardless of which party is responsible for the infraction.

Aside from cutting out Dr Mahathir’s face in Yong Peng, unidentified enforcement workers also removed another billboard in the area that claimed a vote for incumbent Ayer Hitam MP Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong was akin to a vote for Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife.