KUCHING: The police have issued 524 permits for candidates to hold physical campaigns since the campaigning period kicked off on Monday (Dec 6).

       Supt Alexson Naga Chabu, who is the Sarawak police spokesman for the 12th state election, was quoted by an online portal as saying that there haven’t been any major incidents reported so far.

       “The situation during the campaigning period is still under control,” said Supt Alexson.

       Supt Alexson also said from Dec 1 to 8, the police have commenced 14 investigations over electoral offences, among them damaged or torn political posters and defamation on social media.

       Physical ceramahs are banned at some 18 urban state seats, including Padungan, Batu Kawa, Pending, Satok, and Kota Sentosa in Kuching; Pelawan in Sibu; Tanjung Batu in Bintulu; and Piasau, Pujut and Senadin in Miri.

       The 64 state seats where limited physical campaigning is allowed are constituencies mostly located in the interior of Sarawak, among them Tanjong Datu, Stakan, Telang Usan, Mambong, Bawang Assan, Baleh. Ba’Kelalan, and Gedong.

       Physical ceramahs are allowed to be held under strict SOPs to curb Covid-19, which includes requiring all attendees to be fully vaccinated and to undergo RTK antigen self tests prior to the event.

       The ceramah SOPs also required a limit of 50% attendance of the premises capacity, or a maximum of 150 people at one time.

       Organisers are required to apply for a permit from the police prior to the ceramah, where they must state the location and date of the event.

       Ceramah are restricted to two-hours and it cannot go later than 10pm.

       There are 1,252,014 registered voters in Sarawak and early voting will be on Dec 14, while polling is on Dec 18.