Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla said there was also no provision in the election law to stop displaying Mahathir pictures in any form.
“The main manifesto of Pakatan Harapan states that Dr Mahathir will be the prime minister if it captures Putrajaya, as announced on Jan 7,” he told a press conference.
He said PH had the right to inform the public about this and woo them to support their candidates going for parliamentary seats.
Haniff then challenged Election Commission chief Mohd Hashim Abdullah to show which provision of the law stopped the opposition from displaying its leader’s photo.
The lawyer said this in response to Mahathir’s photo being cut out from a giant billboard in Ayer Hitam, Johor.
He said what was worse was to remove such campaign materials without giving any advance notice.
Haniff, who is also a member of the PH legal bureau, said there were also several reports in the mainstream media that had twisted Mahathir’s statements.
He said there was a report which quoted Mahathir as saying that he would abolish ride- hailing services.
“In fact, he only said such services will be studied in detail if PH was voted into power.”
He said the media had a duty to report fairly and accurately about Mahathir and the opposition.
“They should not create a fear factor and serve the interests of certain groups.”