PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad has sarcastically noted the many government programmes in Sungai Bakap as the state constituency faces an upcoming by-election.
In a short statement on Facebook, Idris (above) said the emergence of such programmes must be coincidental.
"Today, I’m in the Sungai Bakap state assembly area, where a by-election will take place on Saturday, July 6.
"There are many Madani government programmes in this area now. This must be coincidental and not because of the by-election.
"Ministers and government agencies are actively running the programmes.
"As we know, the Madani government will not repeat the ancient political ways like the days of BN and Perikatan Nasional," said the Bagan Serai MP.
In a similar tongue-in-cheek fashion, Idris said the RM290,000 allocation for surau and mosques in Sungai Bakap as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced was not election corruption.
"Civil government will bring civilised politics and reforms, and drive the country to be more distinguished.
"All projects approved in the run-up to the by-election are all in compliance with civil governance.
"The BN and PN governments used to act like civil servants, but these people are all mere bureaucrats, not like civil servants who comply with governance that is full of integrity and has the spirit to eradicate election corruption and not arbitrarily abuse government machinery," said Idris.
Vote buying?
Last week, Gerakan president Dominic Lau slammed Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming’s announcement of RM18 million in funding for various projects in South Seberang Perai under the Sentuhan Kasih programme, ahead of the Sungai Bakap by-election.
Nga said the RM18 million allotment would go towards the construction of the Permatang Tinggi fire and rescue station (RM13.7 million), the upgrade of the Bukit Panchor market (RM1 million) and funding for six non-Muslim houses of worship (RM1.02 million).
The funds would also cover repairs at the Tasek Mutiara market and the Taman Bukit Panchor low-cost flats, landscaping at Bukit Panchor, and upgrading works on the Kampung Sungai Udang basketball courts.
Lau claimed Nga’s announcement can be construed as an attempt to buy votes under the pretext of carrying out responsibility and is an act to impose undue influence on the constituency’s voters before the July 6 polls.
Crucial battleground
The Pakatan Harapan-BN camp is fielding former Aminuddin Baki Institute northern branch director Joohari Ariffin, 60, from PKR, while PN named Nibong Tebal PAS vice-chief Abidin Ismail, 56, as its candidate.
The Sungai Bakap seat, with 39,279 voters comprising 39,222 ordinary electors and 57 police officers, fell vacant following the death of its incumbent Nor Zamri Latiff from PAS on May 24 due to stomach inflammation.
The by-election is seen as a crucial battleground for PKR and PAS as it will once again witness the clash between the two parties for the same seat nearly 10 months after the 2023 state election.
Zamri, who was the Nibong Tebal PAS chief, defeated Harapan candidate Nurhidayah Che Rose with a majority of 1,563 votes.
The Election Commission set July 6 for polling, June 22 as the nomination day and July 2 for early voting. - Mkini
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