MCMC all geared up for online campaign ahead of Chini by-election

PEKAN: The stage is set, in case the Election Commission (EC) decides to utilise the "new normal" via online political campaigning in the upcoming Chini by-election.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) along with telecommunication service providers have been working hard strengthening network coverage in the Chini constituency.

He said MCMC was working towards optimising the mobile network coverage ahead of nomination day, campaign and polling for the Chini by-election, with works having begun last month.

"Last week, MCMC teams visited 15 district polling centre (PDM) in the Chini constituency to check on the internet network coverage and we realised that some areas experienced slow data connection. They are trying to boost the connection and some have begun to show improvement .... this will be a continues process.

"The MCMC is prepared if the EC decides to hold online campaigning during the Chini by-election. All the telcos have been working hard to ensure strong internet signal ahead of the Chini by-election and we hope to ensure everything would be sorted out before nomination day on June 20," he told reporters after visiting the Pusat Internet at Felda Chini 3 here today.

On the possibility of a sudden surge of users during the campaign, Saifuddin said at district voting centres with more than 2,000 users, the ministry has requested the telecommunication companies to station the mobile repeaters (cell phone signal boosters) while for areas between 200 and 300 users, network optimisation on the existing towers were sufficient.

Meanwhile, Saifuddin said he hoped that the Chini by-election would pave the way for the EC to utilise online campaigning for future elections in the country.

Saifuddin said since the EC will introduce a special standard operating procedure (SOP) for the Chini state by-election because of the Covid-19 pandemic, he believes it was time to conduct an election system reform.

"I understand that the EC has submitted a special SOP for the Chini by-election to the National Security Council. The EC has made several proposals specifically for the by-election and some could be continuously applied for the future.

"I understand that the EC has proposed the online campaigning to avoid the traditional method of campaigning including from house to house and ceramah events. This is the proposal due to Covid-19 but I believe this is the way election campaigns should be held in the future," he said.

Citing another example, Saifuddin said the processions on nomination day might not be allowed and maybe only allowing the candidate, proposer, seconder along with a limited number of people will be allowed into the nomination centre.

"Only a small group of people should be allowed in the nomination centre. If the practice is continued in future elections, then it would help to scale down unnecessary expenditures incurred during the polls.

"Thousands or hundred of supporters will not gather for processions ... there will be no high expenditures for transportation, t-shirts, caps, flags and tents. As a politician, I hope the Chini by-election would create the opportunity for a much healthier campaign in the future and there will be no need for processions that would involve a huge cost and manpower," he said.

Saifuddin said the decision on the matter was in the hands of the EC.

He said as time progresses, the traditional campaign deployed since independence should be replaced with more suitable platforms utilising the social media.

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