GE14 | An Election Commission (EC) officer has clarified that the image of Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad is not off limits for opposition campaigning materials for use in the coming general election.

However, the unnamed officer was reported by Chinese daily Sin Chew Daily as saying the image of the former prime minister could only appear on materials in constituencies in which Bersatu candidates are contesting in, referring to the Harapan component party founded by Mahathir.

Mahathir is also Harapan chairperson and its prime ministerial candidate should the opposition win the elections.

This clarification came after the electoral body's additional guidelines specifying, among others, images of party leaders that could be used in campaign materials including posters drew flak from the opposition.

The new requirements stated that only two political party leaders, namely the president (or its equivalent) and deputy president (or its equivalent) based on the use of logo or symbol of political party registered by the candidate during the nomination day, could be used.

This was largely seen as a move to prevent the opposition from featuring images of Mahathir and incarcerated Harapan de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim on their campaign materials.

In the Sin Chew report, the EC officer clarified that Mahathir's image could appear as the Kuala Lumpur High Court had granted a stay on a provisional dissolution order issued by the Registrar of Societies (ROS), which meant Bersatu candidates could contest under the party's ticket.

"As the Bersatu chairperson, of course (his image) can be used (in campaigning materials)," the officer was quoted saying.

No to Anwar or Lim Kit Siang, though

However, he added that use of Anwar's and DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang's images were still not permitted.

"This is because they were not elected in party polls. EC's additional condition stipulated only (images of) two top leaders or their equivalent can be used in campaign materials, they must be chosen in party polls.

"Anwar is only advisor, and not president or deputy president," he said, adding the same goes for Lim.

He also said there was no need for Harapan to use the images of PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and deputy president Azmin Ali if they are not from the contesting parties, according to the officer.

The report also noted the images of two leaders from different parties, such as both Mahathir and Wan Azizah, were also barred from appearing on the same campaign material although both are part of one coalition.

Harapan parties have decided to adopt PKR's logo as their common logo in the May 9 polls as the application to register as a coalition has yet to be approved by the ROS.

On this, the EC officer stated that opposition candidates could only use PKR's logo in their campaign materials and not any other party logo.

EC chairperson Mohd Hashim Abdullah had reportedly said the additional requirements were introduced to ensure campaign activities involving contesting parties were carried out peacefully and did not confuse voters.