MELAKA: Amanah president Mohamad Sabu threw jibes at the standard operating procedure (SOP) for the Melaka election, describing it as "pelik" (strange) as Pakatan Harapan’s press conference at leading hotel here was closely monitored by enforcement officers from the Election Commission and police.

       "You see (a big group) of people dining at eateries here, but political ceramah is not allowed.

       "Pelik (strange) things only happen in Malaysia," he said.

       The packed press conference on Wednesday (Nov 10) was also attended by PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

       Media personnel were also forewarned by the master of the ceremony not to remove their face masks or risk being issued compound by the authorities.

       The officers also ordered the section of hall where the press conference was held to be extended by opening the partition of the other section in a bid to observe social distancing.

       Earlier, Melaka police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Abdul Majid Mohd Ali said the political parties could not use the excuse of not understanding the SOP for them to breach the regulations or laws stipulated during polls.

       He said the SOP and permit coordination briefing was attended by the National Security Council and representatives of candidates on Tuesday (Nov 10).

       "We also cleared those matters that are still vague and I hope parties campaigning in the election carry out their responsibilities according to the stipulated regulations," he said.