Wong, who is vying for the Tanjung Aru seat, said he had “never seen the EC behave like this” in his 18 years in politics.
“EC officers have been following our candidates with cameras everywhere we go, recording everything. They even advised our candidates not to interact too much with the people.
“This is the first time in my life that an election feels like this. It feels strange. Wherever we go, they’re there. Let democracy work. Let everyone campaign fairly, let the rakyat decide,” he said at a press conference here today.
The three-term assemblyman claimed that the EC had stopped Warisan candidates from joining villagers for meals, though it had always been allowed previously.
“Suddenly, this time, they said the candidate can’t eat with the villagers. If we don’t eat with them, the villagers think the candidate is arrogant. They don’t understand these sudden restrictions,” he said.
He also claimed the EC was practising double standards, citing an event where officers told them their Likas candidate could not speak because it was held in Luyang.
“So I asked, how about (DAP’s Likas candidate) Phoong Jin Zhe? He’s the Likas candidate but has been speaking in Sandakan and Tawau.
“And when we asked the EC to state the rule, they couldn’t show us any black-and-white. Eventually, they allowed us to continue,” he said.
Wong also complained about Umno flags being put up in Tanjung Aru though it was not contesting for the seat. He said the EC has not taken any action though this violated its campaign rules.
He said Warisan was not objecting to the regulations, but to the unequal enforcement.
“We just want the EC to apply the rules fairly to everyone, not only to us. We’re not complaining, we just want fairness. I don’t blame the officers, they’re just following orders. But the pressure is unnecessary. It feels targeted,” he said.
Contacted by FMT, EC deputy chairman Azmi Sharom said Warisan should lodge a formal complaint with the commission with evidence to back its claims.
Wong is in a nine-cornered contest as he seeks a third term as the Tanjung Aru assemblyman. He had also served as the Likas assemblyman previously.
Among his fiercest rivals is Sabah DAP deputy chairman Chan Foong Hin, who is contesting under Pakatan Harapan.
When Wong won the seat in the 2018 and 2020 elections, Warisan was allied with PH.