I Never Tried To Grab Microphone From Umno Member Says Johor Mb

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Johor Menteri Besar Dr Sahruddin Jamal (right, white shirt) taking a selfie with a passenger boarding a ferry to Tanjung Balai, Indonesia, from the Kukup Ferry Terminal in Pontian.PONTIAN: Johor Menteri Besar Dr Sahruddin Jamal today brushed off claims by the state opposition leader that he tried to seize the microphone of a Umno Youth member during the Tanjung Piai by-election campaign trial
State opposition leader Hasni Mohammad had alleged that Sahruddin tried to grab Umno Youth member Farhan Khairudin’s microphone when the latter was speaking at a walkabout at a night market here
Hasni, who is also Benut assemblyman, claimed that the menteri besar came out from his car when Barisan Nasional members were campaigning at the market
He said Sahruddin tried to seize Farhan’s microphone because he was angry listening to Farhan’s speech
Speaking to reporters after officiating the Kukup ferry terminal, Sahruddin said he was not angry at that time with the BN campaign team
“I did not look angry at that time, did I? I was only asking for permission to speak,” he said
Sahruddin also told Hasni to check his facts before making any accusations
“This is not the time to provoke. We need to be united as Bangsa Johor,” he said
On criticisms by electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 that he tried to fish for votes from fishermen by handling them RM1,000 as compassionate payments during the campaign period, Sahruddin said there is no problem in doing so
“If it does not violate any laws, I think there is no problem. This payment was also handed out in previous years,” he said
The Bersih 2.0 steering committee today said the attempt to fish for votes from the fishermen is not illegal under current laws, but it is clearly unethical
The group said Sahruddin and his state government should adhere to the principles of free and fair elections by not giving out handouts and other government allocations until the Tanjung Piai by-election is over. - FMT

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