The Election Commission (EC) needs to clarify its new election campaign regulations because they are very unclear, House Speaker Chuan Leekpai said on Monday.
The EC said the regulations, announced on Sept 22, were intended to serve as guidelines for political parties and candidates, so they know what they can and cannot do during the 180-day campaign period from Sept 24 until election day, now planned for May 7.
Mr Chuan said he had talked to MPs of all parties and advised them to be careful not to do anything which could be construed as breaching electioneering regulations, or they could become victims of their political opponents.
He believed the Democrat Party had also warned its members about this.
Asked whether he was personally concerned about this, Mr Chuan said he was not worried. His trips were not to campaign for votes, just ordinary visits to people.
With many people now suffering from flooding, Mr 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 would be better for them to wait for the EC to be more specific about what they could or could not do.
For example, MPs were now uncertain whether they could 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 have raised questions about this. And the people should understand that in this situation their MPs may not be able to make merit or lay a wreath at a funeral," he said.
