KUALA LUMPUR — The controversy over racially provocative billboards put up by the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) in the Sungai Besar by-election continued yesterday, as Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) urged rivals Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) and ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN) not to employ smear tactics during the hustings.

“Let us not compromise the harmony of the people here in the name of campaigning,” said Selangor PAS commissioner Iskandar Abdul Samad, adding that campaigns should be based on facts and not baseless accusations.

“PAS rejects narrow-minded racial politics. Race-based and personal attacks must be avoided,” he said.

The Sungai Besar by-election has been rocked by billboards which featured the Malay words “Panggil Cina Babi tidak salah” (Not wrong to call Chinese pigs) that were allegedly made by Sungai Besar United Malays National Organisation (Umno) chief Jamal Yunos. Mr Jamal has denied making the racist statement.

A separate poster said: “BN PAS sehati sejiwa, rasis rasuah sama sekali” (BN and PAS are of one soul, together in racism and corruption), an apparent reference to the emerging alliance between BN and opposition Islamist party PAS, which is at odds with other opposition parties over the implementation of the Islamic penal code, or hudud, in Kelantan. The posters were taken down by the Election Commission on Wednesday, the same day DAP admitted it put up the posters that carried Amanah’s party logo.

Amanah communications director Khalid Samad on Thursday attributed the situation to a “miscommunication” between his party and ally DAP, and promised that no such campaign materials would be put up. Both DAP and Amanah — a splinter party from PAS — together with Parti Keadilan Rakyat, are partners in the Pakatan Harapan opposition pact, which was formed following the fracturing of relations between PAS and other opposition parties over PAS’ plan to implement hudud in Kelantan.

Mr Iskandar said yesterday the billboards put up by DAP without Amanah’s knowledge are a sign of disarray in Pakatan Harapan.

“Basically, they (Pakatan Harapan) have to put their own house in order. If that (miscommunication) is true, why should you vote for them when they have yet to discuss matters as important as that (inflammatory billboards) before putting them up,” he said.

DAP, however, has once again defended its actions in putting up the billboards, with its Selangor DAP chief, Tony Pua, saying yesterday that the move was aimed at highlighting the “hypocrisy” of BN and the authorities.

“The billboards merely exposed Umno and BN’s hypocrisy. When Jamal made the statement, which was widely reported by all media, no action was taken against him. However, when we highlight what he said during the by-election to demonstrate their racist nature, they are all up in arms,” said Mr Pua to the Malay Mail Online.

He said the billboards were part of Pakatan Harapan’s campaign to ensure that Sungai Besar constituents do not vote for Umno. Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said yesterday that the police are investigating those who put up the billboards.

Twin by-elections are being held in Sungai Besar, Selangor, and Kuala Kangsar, Perak, with voters going to the polls on June 18 following the death of incumbents Wan Mohammad Khair-il Wan Ahmad (Kuala Kangsar) and Noriah Kasnon (Sungai Besar) in a helicopter crash on May 5.

In Sungai Besar, PAS’ Dr Abdul Rani Osman will be facing BN candidate Budiman Mohd Zohdi and Amanah’s Azhar Abdul Shukur. It is a four-cornered contest in Kuala Kangsar, where BN’s Mastura Mohd Yazid will be defending her late husband’s seat against PAS’ Dr Najihatussalehah Ahmad, Amanah’s Ahmad Termizi Ramli and independent candidate Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary. AGENCIES