Did the Speaker confirm police will not enforce walkabout permit rules?

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Speaker Confirms Police Will Not Enforce Walkabout Permit Rules for By-Elections

The Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, Tan Sri Mohammad Ariff Md Yusof, has officially confirmed that the police will not enforce the requirement for candidates to obtain permits for walkabouts and door-to-door campaigning during by-elections. This confirmation has been communicated to opposition lawmakers, who have expressed satisfaction with the clarification. The Attorney General, Tan Sri Tommy Thomas, also previously stated that the Election Offences Act does not mandate such permits for candidate interactions.
Official Communication Received

Tanjong Karang MP Tan Sri Noh Omar informed reporters that opposition lawmakers have received an official letter from Speaker Tan Sri Mohammad Ariff Md Yusof. This letter explicitly states that the police will not be enforcing the previously understood requirement for candidates to secure permits for their walkabouts and door-to-door campaign activities. Noh Omar highlighted this official confirmation as a key point of focus for the opposition.
Attorney General's Clarification

Prior to the Speaker's official confirmation, Attorney General Tan Sri Tommy Thomas had also provided clarification on the matter. Thomas stated that the Election Offences Act, as it stands, does not contain provisions that require candidates to obtain police permits for conducting walkabouts or engaging in door-to-door visits as part of their campaigning efforts. This legal interpretation aligns with the Speaker's communicated stance.
Rejection of Motion to Discuss

Despite the eventual confirmation, a motion submitted by opposition lawmakers to discuss the issue of walkabout permit requirements was rejected earlier. Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Nga Kor Ming reportedly dismissed the motion, stating that it did not adhere to the established standing orders for submission. This procedural rejection occurred before the official confirmation from the Speaker was disseminated.

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Did the Speaker confirm police will not enforce walkabout permit rules?

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