I can campaign for who I like, says Zahid after Bersih report

 

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi meeting residents of the Melana Indah public housing project in Johor on Sept 3. He was later alleged to have used ‘undue influence’ on voters. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is Barisan Nasional chairman, has rejected an accusation of trying to unduly influence Pulai voters in a speech at a housing estate last week.

“I’m not a candidate. I can campaign for any candidate I like,” said Zahid in Batu Pahat, Johor, today.

Zahid also expressed hope that he would be investigated under the Election Offences Act as he was confident that he had not committed any wrongdoing.

Yesterday, the electoral reform group Bersih lodged a police report against Zahid for allegedly saying that upgrades to the Melana Indah people’s housing project in Johor would be reviewed and approved on the condition that Pakatan Harapan candidate Suhaizan Kaiat won the Pulai by-election.

Voters go to the polls in Pulai tomorrow to choose a new MP. Suhaizan’s rivals are Perikatan Nasional’s Zulkifli Jaafar and independent Samsudin Fauzi.

Bersih said Zahid’s speech should be investigated under the Election Offences Act for the offences of undue influence on voters and for bribery.

However, Zahid, who is also the rural and regional development minister, said he had the capacity and responsibility to provide “something good” to Pulai residents.

Instead, he said the opposition’s claims should be investigated thoroughly.

“(Look at) how they are trying to threaten us,” he said. “They say things like voting for their rivals is ‘haram’. That’s what should be investigated thoroughly,” referring to a speech made by Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin.

At a PN ceramah in Kempas on Saturday, Muhyiddin had proclaimed that it was “haram” to vote for Suhaizan.

Last night, he denied issuing any religious edict. He said the term “hukum haram” he used in the speech was a figure of speech. - FMT