REMBAU: Rantau by-election candidate Dr S. Streram today said he will lodge a police report following the appearance of at least five provocative banners at several areas in the constituency here.
He expressed his disappointment with the perpetrators behind the “racist” banners, which urge Malay voters in Rantau not to vote for a candidate of Indian descent.
“This is not a good way (to campaign). As a professional, I ask the voters in this constituency to vote for me based on my profession and service to the community.
“We will not focus on this provocation and my representative will lodge a police report (over the matter). I am afraid because this concerns me,” he told reporters during a walkabout at Kampung Nyatoh here, today.
Dr Streram also urged all candidates to practice healthy politics and refrain from committing provocative acts against one other.
“I have said many times that we have to campaign professionally and there should not be any provocation but every day, there are provocations against me.
“We didn’t do anything (that has been alleged). Maybe they want to divert my attention elsewhere, but I will focus on convincing the voters to give me a chance,” he added.
The Rantau by-election sees a four-cornered fight between Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan from Barisan Nasional, Dr Streram from Pakatan Harapan, and two independent candidates, R. Malarvizhi and Mohd Nor Yassin.
The by-election was called after the Federal Court dismissed an appeal filed by Mohamad to set aside an Election Court (EC) decision to declare his victory in the 14th general election (GE14) null and void.
Mohamad had won the seat uncontested in May 2018 after Dr Streram was unable to submit his nomination papers after being denied entry into the nomination centre for not having a pass issued by the EC.
The seat has 20,926 registered voters, including 118 early voters and four absentee voters.