Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said the provocative turn in the by-election campaign by the Opposition was highly irresponsible.
He said the Election Commission (EC) should take swift action to take down such billboards and banners.
“It is becoming more unhealthy and it should not have happened, more so during Ramadan.
“This sort of tactic should be rejected in both in the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections,” he said after a visit to Kampung Nelayan, Sungai Haji Dorani, here today.
Also present were Umno Youth Information Chief Jamawi Jaafar and Umno Youth Religious Bureau Head Fathul Bahri Mat Jahya.
The billboards of images of Prime Minister Najib Razak, PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang and Sungai Besar Umno Division Chief Jamal Md Yunus were accompanied by a provocative caption which angered BN supporters.
The boards were brought down by Election Commission personnel despite the protests of several Opposition leaders present at the site.
Khairy said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had reminded all parties not to touch on racial and controversial issues or make personal attacks, but the Opposition had chosen to ignore the advice.
“I hope we will avoid unhealthy politics as the billboards and banners referred to an unverified statement.”
In this regard, BN Youth machinery in Sungai Besar would campaign by going house to house to canvass for votes, especially among the young voters.
“We ensure the BN Youth machinery will visit all houses, especially those from the youth group to ensure victory. We want to make sure our support transcends all generations and races.”
Meanwhile, Election Commission (EC) Chairman Mohd Hashim Abdullah said the putting up of provocative billboards by a political party was irresponsible and unethical.
He said appropriate action would be taken by the enforcement team to ensure full compliance with the regulations on campaign materials.
“The Election Commission would like to remind that this act is against the Election Offences Act 1954,” he said in a statement here today.
– BERNAMA