Ismail Sabri: Harapan preached against vote-buying but now doing just that

Opposition Leader Ismail Sabri (above) today hit out at Pakatan Harapan for alleged "vote-buying" ahead of the Tanjung Piai by-election despite excuses from its leaders to justify that the allocations announced for the constituency were merely a coincidence.

Rubbishing the justifications, Ismail Sabri said the Harapan government had one and a half years to announce whatever allocations they wanted, and questioned why it is only doing so now.

"Last time they said not to buy votes and not to use government machinery in the election, but now they start buying votes.

"They went there to announced RM4 million or RM5 million for what? Why now? Why not before (there was a by-election)?" he told journalists at the Parliament lobby today.

On Oct 13, Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin (below) announced RM3 million in allocation for various upgradinge work in Kukup, Tanjung Piai, including the construction of a hall.

However, Zuraida said the allocation was approved earlier, and she was only there to ensure that the projects did not stall in the absence of its late Bersatu MP Md Farid Md Rafik.

The Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq used a similar justification when he announced RM4 million in allocation for upgrading work for a sports and recreational facility in Tanjung Piai last Saturday.

He said the allocation was part of the RM14.6 million requested by the late MP.

Yesterday, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Salahuddin Ayub (below) announced RM3 million in upgrades to three jetties in Tanjung Piai, and again said it was to fulfil the late MP's wishes.

Salahuddin, when met by journalists at the Parliament lobby today, defended his announcement.

"The late Farid had discussed with me about the issues, that we should help the village folks.

"We are doing our duties and we do so continuously, not due to the election," he said.

Salahuddin said he cannot hold back the allocation simply because of the by-election.

"The allocation has been disbursed, so I have to announce it. It cannot be that we are allergic to by-elections and are afraid to announce allocations when there is one," he said.

Farid, 43 passed away from a heart attack on Sept 21.

Nomination day for the Tanjung Piai by-election will take place on Nov 2, while polling day will take place on Nov 16. - Mkini