The particular Election Commission (EC) needs to clarify the new election strategy regulations because they are extremely unclear, House Loudspeaker Chuan Leekpai said on Monday.
The EC said the regulations, announced upon Sept 22, were intended to act as guidelines for politics parties and candidates, so they know what they could and cannot do during the 180-day advertising campaign period from September 24 until selection day, now planned for May 7.
Mister Chuan said he previously talked to MPs of all parties plus advised them to try not to do anything which could be construed as breaching electioneering rules, or they could turn out to be victims of their political opponents.
He believed the particular Democrat Party had also warned its members about this.
Asked whether he was personally concerned about this, Mister Chuan said he was not worried. Their trips were not to campaign for ballots, just ordinary trips to people.
With many people now suffering from flooding, Mister Chuan said he was of the opinion that MPs could speak on their behalf. However , they must be particularly careful about handing out goods or making promises.
He said it could be better for them to await the EC to become more specific about what they might or could not do.
For example , MPs were at this point uncertain whether they can lay a wreath at a funeral or give money in an envelope to the bereaved to make merit.
“So, the EC should make it clear, because MPs possess raised questions about this. And the people should understand that in this circumstance their MPs might not be able to make advantage or lay a wreath at a funeral, ” he mentioned.