KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 9): The Election Commission (EC) has once again urged all parties to obey the law, relevant rules and the ethical campaigning process for the upcoming Cameron Highlands by-election.

"The EC hopes that all parties will follow the law, rules and ethical campaigning process at the upcoming parliamentary seat to ensure that the by-election will turn out to be smooth, and not causing any public disruption," commission chairman Azhar Azizan Harun said in a statement today.

The statement was issued following a three-way meeting with the chiefs of Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission and Royal Malaysian Police (RMP), in a bid to counter potential bribery and corruption acts, which are part of the election offences.

"All the three agencies are serious (to uphold the rule of law) and will work closely to ensure that not a single party will commit acts that goes against the relevant laws, rules and ethics concerning the by-election campaign," he added.

As for the police, Azhar said the Pahang contingent is fully prepared at all levels and will station their officers at the upcoming by-election, which include during the nomination day, campaigning period, voting day and post-voting day.

"The EC is confident that the RMP will be able to handle all possibilities and ensure the safety of the event at maximum levels, which will enable the candidates and voters to discharge their democratic responsibilities," he added.

Last year, the Election Court has declared the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat as vacant, after it had found elements of corruption and bribery.

In the 14th general election held on May 9, 2018, the Cameron Highlands seat had been won by MIC's Datuk C. Sivarrajh by a slim majority of nearly 600 votes, beating DAP's M. Manogaran.

Following the Election Court's decision, the EC has banned Sivarraajh from becoming a candidate or voter in any election for the next five years.