Calling on the Election Commission (EC) to reconsider the requirement for the Johor elections, she said it was not clear how many days it would take for a permit to be approved, and how much paperwork was needed.

“It also carries an unnecessary burden to the police that would need to file and review each application that is submitted,” she said in a statement today.

Teo, of DAP, said the EC’s Johor election SOPs announced on Feb 18 were practical in trying to break the chain of Covid-19 infections, especially when daily cases were rising.

“However, it is disappointing and disheartening that while ceramahs are allowed, we will need to obtain a permit from the police,” she said.

“This form of bureaucratic procedure is regressive as permits are no longer a necessity since the requirement under Section 27 of the Police Act 1967 for the granting of peaceful assembly permits was repealed in 2012. Now, organisers would just need to notify the police of the scheduled time and place.”

Teo said while she understood that precautions were needed, especially with outstation voters returning home, she did not see how obtaining a police permit was relevant.

“This is particularly so when the SOPs are already quite clear in terms of the activities and capacities allowed,” she said.