JOHOR POLLS | Johor BN chairperson Onn Hafiz Ghazi has denied claims that students of a technical and vocational education and training (TVET) college were compelled to attend the party’s political canvassing event last Saturday.
When met by reporters outside a campaign trail in Semerah, the state's caretaker menteri besar dismissed claims that the students were forced to participate in the event.
“There was no such thing. Nobody was forced,” he was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today yesterday.
A viral video shows Onn (above) on stage at the Jelajah TVET Mara event, where he called for support for a BN candidate in the Johor state election.
He also reminded Simpang Renggam residents to vote for him when casting their ballots.
Onn said that the Johor government would also give its undivided support to Mara chairperson and Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, who appeared to be present at the programme.
Onn’s remarks, as reported in FMT, were in response to allegations by Pakatan Harapan's Perling candidate Tee Boon Tsong, who reportedly claimed to have received complaints from students who were required to be at the event held at the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) office in Kluang.
FMT reported that Tee also questioned the alleged use of government premises for election campaigning, saying the building was not a BN asset.
He said that he had not lodged a police report on the matter, as he first wanted an explanation from Onn and the IRB.
Onn must explain
Separately, today, Johor DAP chairperson Teo Nie Ching also demanded answers regarding Onn's campaign speech, saying that the party had received complaints from students and parents alleging forced attendance.
Teo claimed students were warned that failure to attend would be treated as absenteeism, but alleged that the programme later became a platform to garner support for the BN candidate.
“I am speaking not as Johor DAP chairperson, but as a mother. Imagine if your child was compelled to attend a programme and was then asked to support a political party,” the deputy communications minister said at a forum in Kulai today.
Teo added that DAP possessed the programme's itinerary, a letter directing compulsory attendance, and a video recording allegedly showing campaign-related remarks.
“Onn attended the programme, and we have no issue with him attending a government event. What we question is the allegation that he used the platform to urge students to vote for the BN candidate by openly mentioning the candidate’s number.
“If this were a government programme, it should not have been used for campaigning. But if it was a party event, then I want to know whether a hall belonging to a government agency can be used for political campaigning,” she said.
Teo added that any further action, including lodging a formal complaint with the Election Commission, would be left to Harapan candidates to consider. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.