It’s only been days since political parties started to put up their flags and banners along the streets to campaign for the upcoming 15th General Election (GE15), but unfortunately, vandals have been going around to remove and damage these flags and banners.
According to Bernama, more than 200 Pakatan Harapan (PH) flags that were put up along a path in Kampung Parit Kuari near Ayer Hitam have since been removed and dumped into a ditch.
Meanwhile, PH’s candidate for the Ayer Hitam parliamentary seat, Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali took to his Facebook page to share that it took about ten volunteers to plant the flags. In addition, they had to work up until 2 am to get it all done.
However, Sheikh Umar later realised that all their flags were vandalised by some irresponsible persons.
“We are very disappointed with this kind of gangster politics and condemn any party that uses dirty tactics in the election.”
“This attitude smears democracy which allows political parties to campaign healthily and in accordance with the rules set by the Election Commission (EC) and also the authorities,” he said.
PH practices matured politics
Meanwhile, Sheikh Umar also urged the PH Ayer Hitam workers not to retaliate by doing something that is against the election laws.
“We will continue to fight and campaign ethically. We will also continue to work hard to ensure PH’s victory in the Ayer Hitam parliamentary seat,” he said.
Nonetheless, vandalism did not just happen in Ayer Hitam and in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, campaign materials for Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh met with the same fate.
While in Kampung Parit Kuari, Melaka, more than 200 PH flags have been removed and thrown into the gutter.
Meanwhile, Batu Pahat District Police Chief ACP Ismail Dollah said the police have not received any reports regarding incidents of political party flags being removed or thrown away.
Penduduk Taman Tun Dr Ismail maklumkan bahawa pagi ini bendera Harapan telah ditarik keluar, banner saya dipotong & billboard saya dihancurkan di beberapa lokasi. Sedih kerana kami bukan orang kaya. Permainan politik kotor dan menjijikkan. Bertanding secara bersih pls! #Segambut pic.twitter.com/1PeopawkOR
— Hannah Yeoh (@hannahyeoh) November 7, 2022
Ayuh anak muda, kita bina legasi politik matang. Tinggalkan budaya kebencian yang akhirnya pasti merugikan. That’s just not who we are.
— Nurul Izzah Anwar 🇲🇾 🌺 (@n_izzah) November 6, 2022
Walau bunting dikoyak, tetapi semangat tetap kental, InshaaAllah✊🏽💪🏽#AyuhMalaysia #DemiPermatangPauh pic.twitter.com/qgNUzYaJQ3
 flags that were put up along a path in Kampung Parit Kuari near Ayer Hitam have since been removed and dumped into a ditch.){kind=link}