Zawawi insists durian fest not theirs, a 'misunderstanding'

SG KANDIS POLLS | PKR's Sungai Kandis candidate Zawawi Ahmad Mughni has attributed the thorny issue of free durians during the by-election to a misunderstanding, insisting the programme is not by their campaign machinery.

“It was actually organised outside of the Sungai Kandis constituency, in the Kota Kemuning constituency.

“There were certain quarters who had organised the programme without informing us.

"They circulated the news, and I feel such a misunderstanding should not happen again,” he said.

Zawawi said the organisers were neither from the Sungai Kandis operations centre nor PKR.

He added the organisers had put his photograph in the publicity material without his permission, and had not informed him about the matter.

Zawawi waved off claims his party had broken election rules, saying he actually agrees with Bersih on the matter.

“We agree with what Bersih has stated, and I understand the event has been postponed until after the by-election,” he said.

Yesterday electoral reform coalition Bersih chewed up PKR for breaching election rules by purportedly offering free food during the election campaign.

"Bersih condemns such corrupt practices, as, if held, is tantamount to an offence under Section 8 of the Election Offences Act for treating to influence voting behaviour of voters,” it said.

The event organised by a Selangor government-linked cooperative Koperasi Hijrah Selangor (Kohijrah) is part of a food truck carnival to be held in Section 32 in Shah Alam this Saturday.

An event poster featured both Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari and by-election candidate Zawawi Ahmad Mughni.

Amirudin's office claims the menteri besar had been unaware of the programme and had also not given permission for his photograph to be used.

Kohijrah is linked to Hijrah Selangor, which is the Selangor government's micro-credit programme for entrepreneurs.

Zawawi meanwhile said it was good that the programme has been postponed as it would cause misunderstanding.

However, he will not take legal action since the organisers have recheduled the programme. - Mkini