SEMENYIH POLLS | The first forum held by Pakatan Harapan following the nomination of the Semenyih by-election candidates was stopped as the organiser did not have a permit.

A team of Election Commission (EC) enforcement officers, who paid a surprise visit to the ceramah, ordered the forum called off.

The ceramah dubbed, 'The Stage of Harapan Youth', was held at Taman Jenaris night market last night, reported online news portal Malaysia Gazette.

Harapan's candidate for Semenyih Muhammad Aiman Zainali was to be the last speaker of the ceramah.

Event organiser Ammar Fauzi, who is also the president of NGO Effort Malaysia, was quoted as saying they were aware they did not obtain a permit.

As such, he said, they had to obey the EC instruction.

"We have started a programme, and I am merely the executor [...] there are lots of new laws. I am a local and when the EC said cannot, then cannot lah," he said.

"We must observe the law... I am an organiser and am not good with the permit (issue). This is my fault, not Harapan's," he said.

“EC has given us a good explanation," he added.

The event kicked off with Penang PKR Youth information chief Fahmi Zainol and Dusun Tua state assemblyperson Edry Faizal delivering their speeches.

Shortly, several EC officers arrived in a van that bore the words 'EC enforcement' and instructed the ceramah to stop as soon as the duo had completed their speeches.

The forum was hosted by Harapan Youth. 

When met at a walkabout around Pekan Semenyih market, Aiman declined comment.

"Oh, that I don't dare to comment... I wasn't sure. We were invited and then we were told (about the incident)," he said.

He, however, noted that the issue concerned the organiser, not Harapan Youth.

"Of course, (we will check to ensure the event we attend are granted a permit). We also checked yesterday," he said.

When asked if the incident will tarnish Harapan's image, he said: "I don't dare to comment."