Giving of election goodies now normal, will continue, says Shahril

 

Khairy Jamaluddin (left) and Shahril Hamdan discuss the ‘goodies’ being distributed by both the government and opposition in the run-up to the Nenggiri state by-election. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

The giving of 

goodies

 during elections will persist, says former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan.

In the latest episode of the Keluar Sekejap podcast, Shahril said it was difficult for politicians to move away from giving or promising goodies, which he termed as 

development politics

, because the people expect it.

“During election season, they (the politicians) double, triple, quadruple their efforts (in giving the goodies).

The rest of the time, they focus their efforts on becoming skilled experts and the best in retail politics, which often includes elements of development politics. So, this won’t change.

Shahril was asked by his co-host, Khairy Jamaluddin, whether both the government and the opposition were giving out 

goodies

 in the lead-up to the Nenggiri state by-election this Saturday because they knew that 

development politics

 was still effective, especially in rural areas.

Khairy said 

goodies

 need not always be in cash, but could also be in the form of a promise to build a sports arena if the coalition won or provide cooked food for the election workers.

It’s hard to believe that, in 2024, we still can’t move beyond the framework of development politics,

 said Khairy, a former Umno Youth chief.

Shahril also said it had reached a point where 

development politics

 might not even win votes any more, but it was seen as a 

licence to play

.

If you don’t play it, it’s a problem. If you do, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll win. But it becomes an expectation (to give goodies), and then you win due to other reasons.

He said the 

election machinery

 also expects central leaders to bring with them goodies when they go down to the ground to campaign. 

Otherwise, the (party) machinery will feel embarrassed.

Khairy earlier commented that both the government and the opposition were giving goodies in the run-up to the Nenggiri by-election.

He cited the finance ministry issuing a statement last Saturday that it had taken steps to address the issue of Nenggiri residents’ lack of access to automated teller machine (ATM) services.

Without mentioning names, Khairy also said a 

friend

 in the opposition, a former minister, was seen distributing food in Nenggiri.

Khairy said small gestures, such as giving instant noodles to voters, only paved the way to justify the giving of bigger things.

He said whether it was giving instant noodles or promising to build bridges, or even using government helicopters and machinery to campaign – it had all become 

acceptable

. - FMT