Ongoing projects in Ayer Kuning approved before polls called, says MB

 

Perak menteri besar Saarani Mohamad said the ongoing traffic dispersal project in Tapah was approved when Ishsam Shahruddin was still the Ayer Kuning assemblyman. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

The ongoing development and infrastructure projects in Ayer Kuning had been approved before the by-election was called, said Perak menteri besar Saarani Mohamad.

Speaking at a press conference in Ipoh, he said the ongoing traffic dispersal project in Tapah was approved when Ishsam Shahruddin was the Ayer Kuning assemblyman.

Saarani said Ishsam had also applied for allocations for the development of mosques, suraus and religious schools in the constituency through a letter dated Feb 20, two days before he died.

“I only opened the letter on Feb 24. I didn’t have the heart to reject it because it was a request made before he passed away,” Bernama quoted him as saying.

Saarani was responding to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s reminder against the use of government machinery or allocations for campaigning in the Ayer Kuning by-election.

The Ayer Kuning by-election will see a three-cornered contest between Perikatan National’s Abd Muhaimin Malek, Barisan Nasional’s Yusri Bakir and Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s KS Bawani.

The by-election was called following the death of Ishsam on Feb 22. He won the seat in the previous general election with a 2,213-vote majority in a five-way contest.

The Election Commission has set April 26 as polling day, while early voting is on April 22. - FMT