Bersih Slams Nga S Rm6 13m Announcement For Tapah As Abuse

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Electoral watchdog Bersih slammed an announcement by Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming yesterday as an abuse of government machinery.
It said this after Nga announced an allocation of RM6,130,719 for 33 development and infrastructure projects in Tapah, which Bersih notes would encompass the Ayer Kuning state constituency that will soon undergo a by-election.
It said Nga’s (above) use of his ministerial position to channel government projects into areas facing an election is an unfair use of government resources.
“Although development and infrastructure improvements are legitimate needs, this large-scale announcement was made in the context of an election campaign and provides an unfair advantage to the ruling party.
“Announcements of allocations during an election campaign period not only create the perception of vote-buying by stealth, but also taint the democratic principles that are supposed to guarantee clean and fair political competition.
“The people have the right to make their choice based on policy, integrity, and service record, not based on sudden promises of projects and funding that appear during election season,” it said in a statement today.
Bersih cited the “3C” guidelines it issued in 2023 in conjunction with the state elections for Kedah, Penang, Kelantan, Terengganu, Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan.
The guidelines stipulate that there shall be no conditions, no campaigning, and no involvement of election candidates during official government functions, to ensure government machinery is not misused for political purposes.
“What the housing and local government minister announced in Tapah is a violation of the spirit and purpose of the guidelines,” it said.
It lamented that this was not an isolated case, despite leaders of the current government condemning such practices when they were in the opposition.
Instead, Bersih said it has observed a series of violations of electoral ethics in the past few elections, particularly by the Housing and Local Government Ministry.
“The Ayer Kuning by-election will be an important test of the current government’s commitment to political reform and electoral integrity.
“If the culture of patronage continues to be tolerated, then the aspiration of building a new, clean, and mature political culture will remain mere rhetoric,” Bersih added.
Upgrading toilets, food courts
According to Bernama, Nga’s announcement yesterday covered various projects such as the upgrading of public toilets, food courts, roads, and public halls, as well as the installation of LED lights in several locations.
It also covers repairs for public housing, upgrades for Taman Malaysia Tapah, and restoration works for Dewan Muhibbah Bidor.
Nomination day for the Ayer Kuning polls is tomorrow, while polling day falls on April 26.
The by-election is being held following the death of its incumbent Ishsam Shahruddin, 58, on Feb 22.
BN has named Tapah Umno division secretary Yusri Bakir as its candidate, while Perikatan Nasional is fielding Tapah PN chief Abdul Muhaimin Malek.
Both Yusri and Muhaimin are ustaz.
Meanwhile, PSM is nominating its deputy secretary-general Bawani KS.
- Mkini

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