MELAKA: Melaka police refuted allegations on social media that they practised double standards when issuing compound notices relating to the upcoming state election.

       State police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Wira Abdul Majid Mohd Ali said his officers would gather evidence first before issuing such notices to any political party.

       “We have never discriminated against anyone on the issuance of compound notices. We use a fair approach by advising the organisers of any political gathering before issuing the fine,” he said yesterday.

       DCP Abdul Majid said police had pictorial evidence of people gathering at a PKR ceramah at Taman Paya Rumput here on Oct 30 before issuing the compound notice.

       “Please don’t confuse the people with inaccurate information as my men had the evidence to issue the fine and did their job professionally,” he said.

       On Sunday, PKR information chief Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin claimed that his party election team was slapped with an RM10,000 compound notice for an attempt to hold a “mobile” political ceramah at Paya Rumput here the previous day.

       During an online press conference, the Hang Tuah Jaya MP said the ceramah had no crowd and speakers would stand on a lorry with a makeshift stage and deliver their speeches through loudspeakers.

       He said the ceramah was not considered a social event while there were no large gatherings that pose a risk of triggering a new Covid-19 cluster.

       DCP Abdul Majid said political parties can submit appeals to the Melaka Health Department if they are unhappy with the compound notices issued to them for violating the standard operating procedure (SOP).

       He said police will execute their responsibility according to the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within Infected Local Areas) (National Recovery Plan) 2021.

       He added that gatherings and rallies in relation to the Melaka election are not permitted and political parties should abide by this ruling.

       He also said his men carried out their duty based on the Health Ministry’s ban on any election-related activities and social gatherings until Nov 27, adding that police will remain apolitical when carrying out their responsibility in enforcing the law.