The opposition has generally welcomed the 15-day campaign period for the 13th general election, describing it as adequate and reasonable.
DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua Kiam Wee said it would be the longest campaigning period in the general election.
"Although we had demanded a 21-day campaign period, we feel that the 15-day period is long enough," he said when contacted.
The Election Commission (EC) has announced May 5 as polling day and April 20 the nomination of candidates for the 13th general election.
Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who welcomed the announcement, said the longer campaign period would enable candidates to blaze across the battleground.
"The candidates will have enough time to cover all areas in their constituency and plan their ceramah well," he added.
PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali described the campaign period as reasonable.
However, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Fuziah Salleh was unhappy that the EC did not set a 21-day campaign period as proposed to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to Improve the Election Process.
"Anyway, our election machinery is 99 per cent ready to be mobilised for we had anticipated the polling and nomination dates," she added.
In KOTA BHARU, State PAS deputy commissioner Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said the campaign period was just right for it was neither too long nor too short.
He said Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat would announce the names of PAS candidates in the state before the nomination date, of which 30 per cent of them would be newcomers.
"We have also appointed 55 lawyers headed by Kelantan PAS laws and human rights bureau chief Hisham Fauzi to assist the candidates," he said when opening an operation room for the lawyers.
In KUANTAN, Pahang Youth Council president Khairul Amin Osman hoped the longer campaign period would ensure a smooth election and called on all political parties to avoid provocation that could trigger chaos.
"Youths involved in the campaign should exercise prudence and avoid raising defamatory issues to gain votes through dirty tactics in the interest of unity and racial harmony," he added.
Federation of Peninsular Malay Students (GPMS) president Wan Emril Wan Embong said the EC should rise to the occasion to prove its integrity by conducting a transparent election while political parties, particularly the opposition should not find fault with the EC.
Pahang Perkasa information chief Muhammad Faiz Hashim said the longer campaign period should enable political parties to reach more voters.
In IPOH, Perak Umno secretary Datuk Mohd Khusairi Abdul Talib said the state BN would make full use of the longer campaign period to meet as many voters as it could to explain its pledge, including through house to house visit from afternoon till the wee hour.
Perak BN Youth chief Khairul Azwan Harun said the longer campaign period would not make much difference since the voters had access to a lot of information to evaluate the BN and the opposition track records and performance.
On the other hand, Gerakan deputy president Datuk Chang Ko Youn felt that the 15-day campaign period was too long since all parties had been campaigning for the past five years.
Perak DAP chairman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham said the party would maximise the longer campaign period and hoped the election would be conducted in a clean atmosphere until the new government was formed.
DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua Kiam Wee said it would be the longest campaigning period in the general election.
"Although we had demanded a 21-day campaign period, we feel that the 15-day period is long enough," he said when contacted.
The Election Commission (EC) has announced May 5 as polling day and April 20 the nomination of candidates for the 13th general election.
Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who welcomed the announcement, said the longer campaign period would enable candidates to blaze across the battleground.
"The candidates will have enough time to cover all areas in their constituency and plan their ceramah well," he added.
PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali described the campaign period as reasonable.
However, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Fuziah Salleh was unhappy that the EC did not set a 21-day campaign period as proposed to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to Improve the Election Process.
"Anyway, our election machinery is 99 per cent ready to be mobilised for we had anticipated the polling and nomination dates," she added.
In KOTA BHARU, State PAS deputy commissioner Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said the campaign period was just right for it was neither too long nor too short.
He said Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat would announce the names of PAS candidates in the state before the nomination date, of which 30 per cent of them would be newcomers.
"We have also appointed 55 lawyers headed by Kelantan PAS laws and human rights bureau chief Hisham Fauzi to assist the candidates," he said when opening an operation room for the lawyers.
In KUANTAN, Pahang Youth Council president Khairul Amin Osman hoped the longer campaign period would ensure a smooth election and called on all political parties to avoid provocation that could trigger chaos.
"Youths involved in the campaign should exercise prudence and avoid raising defamatory issues to gain votes through dirty tactics in the interest of unity and racial harmony," he added.
Federation of Peninsular Malay Students (GPMS) president Wan Emril Wan Embong said the EC should rise to the occasion to prove its integrity by conducting a transparent election while political parties, particularly the opposition should not find fault with the EC.
Pahang Perkasa information chief Muhammad Faiz Hashim said the longer campaign period should enable political parties to reach more voters.
In IPOH, Perak Umno secretary Datuk Mohd Khusairi Abdul Talib said the state BN would make full use of the longer campaign period to meet as many voters as it could to explain its pledge, including through house to house visit from afternoon till the wee hour.
Perak BN Youth chief Khairul Azwan Harun said the longer campaign period would not make much difference since the voters had access to a lot of information to evaluate the BN and the opposition track records and performance.
On the other hand, Gerakan deputy president Datuk Chang Ko Youn felt that the 15-day campaign period was too long since all parties had been campaigning for the past five years.
Perak DAP chairman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham said the party would maximise the longer campaign period and hoped the election would be conducted in a clean atmosphere until the new government was formed.
