DPM defends visits to Camerons ahead of by-election

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today defended her visit to Cameron Highlands ahead of the parliamentary by-election.

Speaking to reporters this evening, she said her visit there was on the basis of her work as the National Security Council's chairperson and had nothing to do with the political campaign.

"I went there because we had the NSC meeting on Dec 27 over Ops Gading 4 which ended on Dec 31.

"During the meeting, the Pahang state government requested us (federal government) to continue the operation in 2019 to address the problem of land encroachment in Cameron Highlands, which had caused landslides and saw lives lost.

"So this is one of the federal government's move to assist the state government, as this matter is under the state government's purview," she told reporters during an event at International Islamic University Malaysia campus in Gombak today.

Wan Azizah was responding to criticism from electoral watchdog Bersih on several ministers holding events in Cameron Highlands before the start of the by-election's campaign period.

She said a recent visit by Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Xavier Jayakumar was also about ministerial work.

"He went to discuss water matters, it is not about (campaigning). It had even yet to be the nomination day.

"This thing (works) have to go on working as part of the government and state matters." - Mkini