NIBONG TEBAL: Police have approved 81 permits for campaigning since the start of the Sungai Bakap by-election campaigning period last week.
State police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said a total of 20 permits were approved today, the ninth day of campaigning.
"No permit application was rejected. Altogether, a total of 81 permits have been approved since the start of campaigning until now," he said today.
Hamzah said police have only received a report last Thursday with regard to damaging of campaign materials.
It was reported last Friday that police had opened an investigation into a report lodged over damaged Pakatan Harapan (PH) flags and campaign materials in Bandar Tasek Mutiara here.
The Penang PKR Youth had filed a report at the Seberang Prai Selatan district police headquarters on the incident on Wednesday.
It was reported that 38 PH banners and 53 flags erected in the area had been maliciously taken down and damaged, with some items found inside drains, and replaced with Perikatan Nasional's (PN) campaign materials.
Hamzah said with another six days of campaigning left before polling day, the people were advised not to resort to any form of provocation.
"We advise all campaign organisers to ensure that the campaign areas, such as ceramah sites and meeting places, are kept clean and to avoid damaging public property.
"Strict action will be taken against any political party or individual who violates the laws and regulations," he added.