PUTRAJAYA: Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil today reminded all parties to campaign in a healthy manner and to avoid extreme propaganda and slander.
"I want to raise an issue that may (arise) at the eleventh hour during the Sungai Bakap by-election campaign… a reminder to everyone from any party that we need to stop campaigning at 12am tonight.
"At the same time, we want to send a strong warning to everyone to avoid playing with provocative content as we have seen here," he said at a press conference here.
Earlier, Fahmi shared screenshots of social media content featuring an image of two men kissing, with the title "Vote Harapan for Freedom".
He said complaints had been received and both the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the police will take action to track down those responsible for the malicious act.
"There are phone numbers in the content, and MCMC, along with the police will investigate to identify those behind this malicious act.
"I ask all parties to campaign in a healthy manner… not with slander or extreme propaganda like this.
"If this is an effort from any party (over such an act), it will backfire," he said.
The Sungai Bakap by-election tomorrow will see a straight fight between Pakatan Harapan's Dr Joohari Ariffin and Perikatan Nasional's Abidin Ismail.
In the state elections last year, Pas' Nor Zamri Latiff defeated PKR's Nurhidayah Che Rose with a majority of 1,563 votes.
His passing on May 24 triggered the by-election.