15 days is more than enough - campaign started since 2008

Political analysts say political parties have started campaiging almost immediately after the 2008 general election so the 15 days official campaign period accorded by the Election Commission is sufficient.

On Friday Prof Dr Ahmad Atory Hussain from Universiti Sains Malaysia Social Science Studies Faculty said: “To me, 15 days is already sufficient for political parties to campaign."
“There were thousands of ‘ceramah’ or talks by Pakatan Rakyat parties since 2008. You can get this record from the police.”

Recently DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng reportedly said that the 15 days campaigning period is not enough.

Lim was quoted as saying: “I am disappointed that our call for 21 days of campaigning was not fulfilled.”

However Pas secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali described the campaigning period for the 13^th General Election as reasonable.

Dr Ahmad said Barisan Nasional had organised political campaigns as well but pointed out that: “Pakatan have intensified their campaigns in social media and foreign media coverage.”

“There are on-going campaigns from Twitter, Facebook to websites. Their leaders had given interviews on many foreign media agency smearing the government’s administration. Isn’t that enough?” Dr Ahmad asked.

He said longer campaign period may result in unwanted provocations due to growing tensions between political parties.

“It is feared that when emotions are running high between leaders and supporters, some people may take advantage by doing provocations which can lead to chaos,” Dr Ahmad said.

“This will affect the livelihood of the people. Not politicians, because they have the resources to leave this country anytime.”

A blog post at Just Read, criticising Lim’s for not being happy with the 15-day campaign, wrote: “He forgot that DAP, PAS and PKR have been campaigning over the last four years since the 12th general elections. They have been very aggressive, attacking Barisan Nasional from every corner and even resorted to notorious street demo with Bersih.”

“So, why is he asking for an extra 6 days?”

Another analyst Dr Mohd Noor Yazid from Universiti Malaysia Sabah said the 15 days to campaign is considerably long as the parliament was dissolved only weeks before reaching its five years full term.

“Political parties have started campaigning in anticipation that the parliament could have been dissolved in April 28.”  

Dr Mohd Noor added intense campaigning had begun since January this year, with Pakatan unveiling its election manifesto then.

“I don’t think we should be asking for more days. What we should ask is for both parties to campaign without contradicting our law and Federal Constitution,” said Mohd Noor.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had announced the dissolvement of Parliament on April 3.

An article at The Star stated in the last general election, nomination day was Feb 24 and polling day March 8, which allowed for a 13-day campaign period.

The article also stated: In Malaya’s first general election in 1959, there were 35 days between nomination and polling day while in Malaysia’s first general election in 1964, there were 35 days between nomination and polling day.