‘Pakatan does not use money to buy people’s support’

KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says Pakatan Harapan never gave out money to woo the people to support the coalition.

The Prime Minister said, however, that the government provided financial aid for those in need.

Speaking to the media at the launch of Astana City Group’s new liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) composite cylinder, he said if the government had to provide (development allocation) money, it would do so.

“If the money is given by the government, everybody will get it. That is all.

“Pakatan Harapan never used money to give to anyone,” he said when asked to comment on photos of a woman wearing a red Pakatan T-shirt handing out money to several orang asli in Cameron Highlands.

Jelai Pakatan operations centre assistant chief Arvind Bharet had claimed that the money was meant to reimburse petrol cost for volunteers who went to support Pakatan candidate M. Manogaran during nomination on Saturday.

The pictures drew strong criticism from Umno and MCA, which said that such a thing could not be accepted at all.

On the event, the Prime Minister gave his assurance that the government would keep supporting local businesses based on its financial capabilities.

Dr Mahathir said although the government’s allocation was limited, it was still important to see local businesses thrive and continue to boost the country’s economy.

“Local companies which are currently receiving financial assistance should find ways so that they will not be dependent on any help from the government.

“This will then allow the allocation to be channelled to those who are truly in need,” he said.

Asked to specify which industries were being given aid and the conditions for such aid, Dr Mahathir said: “It depends on each industry and whether we want the industries to be in Malaysia or not.

“Sometimes when they are just beginning (the business), they cannot make any profit, we will help them in the initial phase.”

Astana City is the seventh operator to be involved in LPG marketing and was given the LPG gas handling subsidy by the Finance Ministry in November.

PETALING JAYA: The public should lodge a report so that the authorities can investigate any wrongdoing during the campaigning period for the Cameron Highlands by-election, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“If there is any wrongdoing, please lodge a police report. There will always be elements, both internal and external, that will impede our fight for democracy.

“We have to work together to overcome these,” said the PKR president yesterday.

Anwar’s tweet came following the call by Election Commission (EC) chairman Azhar Azizan Harun urging anyone with direct evidence of wrongdoing in the campaigning period to lodge a report.

But Azhar said only those with first-hand information should come forward, as second-hand information would merely be hearsay.

On Sunday, photos of a woman wearing a red Pakatan Harapan T-shirt handing out money went viral. Pakatan claimed it was petrol allowance for “volunteers” who travelled to Tanah Rata during nomination day.

Similar calls were made by Transparency International-Malaysia (TIM), which urged the EC, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the police to act against those involved in money politics during the campaigning period.

TI-M president Datuk Seri Akhbar Satar said enforcement agencies should closely monitor the campaign activities of all candidates and their machinery to ensure that no one violated the rules, regulations and ethics of election campaigning.

He said serious attention must be given to activities deemed as “votebuying” and that prompt action must be taken against any offender under the Election Offences Act, MACC Act or Penal Code.

“There should be zero tolerance to money politics from both sides of the political divide,” he said.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong also raised the issue, saying Pakatan’s stand reeked of double standards, given its strong stance against money politics.

Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said handing out political bribery disguised as allowances was an “outdated political tactic”.

Polling for the Cameron Highlands by-election is on Jan 26.