In a statement, EC secretary Khairul Idrus said such claims were baseless, urging any party with concerns to file an official complaint with the EC or the relevant authorities regarding suspected misconduct or breaches of election laws, Bernama reported.

He was responding to a report in which Warisan vice-president Junz Wong accused the EC of shadowing the party’s candidates and imposing sudden restrictions while on the campaign trail.

“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,” he said at a press conference in Kota Kinabalu on Friday.

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.

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.

According to Khairul, the EC enforcement team is tasked with monitoring campaign activities and advising all parties to comply with election laws to ensure the integrity and smooth conduct of the polls.

The Sabah polls will be held on Nov 29, with early voting taking place on Nov 25.

A total of 596 candidates, including 74 independents, are vying for the 73 seats up for grabs.