Muhyiddin S Ex Aide Bersatu Footed Ge15 Costs Pas Won Seats With Its Funding

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Bersatu had footed the election bills for the 15th general election and even gave PAS "significant financial contributions", leading to the Perikatan Nasional ally winning 43 seats, a former aide to Muhyiddin Yassin said.
In a Facebook post today, Marzuki Mohamad, who was Muhyiddin’s principal private secretary when the latter was prime minister, appeared to take a veiled swipe at PAS election director Sanusi Nor, who yesterday chastised PN allies for relying on PAS’ resources during elections.
In his winding-up speech at PAS’ 71st muktamar in Kedah, Sanusi said the party had to fork out a huge sum to cover election costs, whereas there were “rakan-rakan” (allies) who came to contest with empty hands.
“They do not have the machinery. They do not have money. Everything they did depended on us. But they want to be the leader?
“Do not let me start raking up everything from the past,” he said.
PAS election director Sanusi NorThe Kedah menteri besar said there was a forecast that PAS might need up to RM1 million to cover their campaign costs in each parliamentary constituency and told delegates not to take lightly the importance of preparing their finances and machinery.
It is believed that Sanusi’s criticism was aimed at Bersatu, which had contested in the GE15 alongside PAS.
‘Elections are costly’
While agreeing with Sanusi’s estimate of RM1 million, Marzuki said the amount could be much higher if a party is serious about winning.
"For me, RM1 million is the bare minimum. If a party is serious about winning, the amount could be much higher.
"During GE15, PAS did not face major problems with election spending. When they contested under the PN logo, all election materials bearing the PN logo were supplied by PN. The expenses were in fact borne entirely by Bersatu. On top of that, Bersatu also gave PAS significant financial contributions.
"As a result, PAS won 43 parliamentary seats which is the largest number in the party’s 70-year history in Malaysian politics.
“This is the reality of the material and financial assistance provided by Bersatu to PAS, which I believe Sanusi himself knows," Marzuki added.
Muhyiddin Yassin’s former aide Marzuki MohamadHe also broke down the expenses which political parties have to incur when contesting, from printing flags, posters, banners, and billboards, to producing items such as caps, T-shirts, and flagpoles.
Marzuki highlighted that beyond materials, parties must also invest in training their election machinery, with allowances paid to polling and counting agents to ensure they turn up on polling day and safeguard the voting and counting process.
Additional expenses, he said, include transport to ferry voters, covering vehicle hire, driver allowances, and fuel, without which many would not reach polling stations.
"So, elections are costly. Whatever the party, these are the unavoidable expenses," he said. - Mkini

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