Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today claimed several allocations announced by his ministers in Tanjung Piai ahead of a by-election there was merely a coincidence.
"Before the candidate nomination, we are still doing our duties as per usual. Allocations are made all the time but it is a coincidence that there is a by-election there," he told journalists at the Parliament lobby.
Mahathir was asked to respond to accusations that Harapan was engaging in vote-buying through the allocations.
Asked why his ministers did not wait until after the by-election to announce the allocations, Mahathir said it would be best if they were not used to fish for votes when the campaign begins.
"We have made the announcement. When there is campaigning then it won't be good to offer any help.
"Normally, there are already plans in place but if possible, they should not be used to fish for votes," he said.
Yesterday, opposition Leader Ismail Sabri hit out at Harapan for not walking the talk over its stance against vote-buying.
On Oct 13, Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin had announced RM3 million in allocations for various upgrading works 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 following the recent death of its MP, Bersatu's Mohd Farid Mohd Rafik.
Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman used a similar justification when he announced RM4 million in allocation for sports and recreational facilities in Tanjung Piai last Saturday.
He said the allocation was part of the RM14.6 million requested by the late MP.
Last Sunday, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Salahuddin Ayub announced RM3 million in upgrades to three jetties in Tanjung Piai and, again, said it was to fulfil the late MP's wishes.
Salahuddin had defended the allocation, stating that they have been disbursed and he, therefore, announced them, adding that he cannot be "allergic to by-elections".
Meanwhile, Syed Saddiq, when met at the Parliament lobby today, defended the allocation he announced in Tanjung Piai.
"I cannot answer on behalf of other ministers but for sports infrastructure, it was already approved at the request of the late Farid and had been discussed for a long time.
"I am announcing this only now, it is already known. The media just did not ask me about it in the past," he said. - Mkini
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