GEORGE TOWN, May 25 — Parti Cinta Malaysia candidate Datuk Huan Cheng Guan had a brief shouting match with DAP state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh outside a polling station when the former accuses the latter of campaigning outside the station.
Huan and his supporters were earlier unhappy that a group of Pasukan Peronda Sukarela (PPS) wearing their purple uniform were standing at the vicinity of the SJKC Kong Min 2 in Paya Terubong this morning.
A shouting match between Huan and Phee broke out outside the school gate when Huan tried to prevent Phee from entering the compound.
Huan alleged Phee, who is also wearing the purple PPS vest, of campaigning near the polling station when the elections rule clearly states that they can’t campaign within 50m from a polling station.
Phee insisted that PPS is a voluntary body that was approved by the state legislative assembly so there is nothing wrong for the PPS members to be around to assist voters while Huan insisted they must not go near the polling station.
After a few minutes of shouting at each other, Huan walked off in a huff with his supporters.
“Huan is saying PPS is illegal and ask me to remove the vest if not he will make a police report so I ask him to go ahead,” Phee said of the incident.
He added that he went to the polling station to look into the duties of the PPS and volunteer workers there.
“Our mission is to help the voters cross the road and to assist elderly voters, not to campaign,” he insisted.
Despite this, Huan lodged a police report against Phee and PPS alleging them of trying to canvas for votes for DAP within the polling station.
On the other hand, DAP also lodged a complaint with the Election Commission alleging Huan had campaigned inside one of the polling stations.
When asked about this issue, Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said he has not received any complaints as yet.
He said it is against the EC rules for a candidate or his party to campaign inside any polling station.
“If we find any candidate doing this, action will be taken,” he said in a press conference today.
On whether it is wrong for PPS to be near any polling station, Abdul Aziz said as long as the uniform does not have any party logos, they can be around.
“You can wear any clothes, as long as there is no party logo, to the polling stations, it can be an Arsenal logo or a Manchester United logo, these are ok,” he said.
There a total 82,283 registered voters who will be casting their votes at a total 139 polling stations in the constituency.
Voters will be choosing between four contenders to be the next Bukit Gelugor MP; DAP’s Ramkarpal Singh Deo, PCM’s Huan and independent candidates Abu Backer Sidek Mohammad Zan and Mohd Nabi Bux Mohd Sathar.
