Rafizi Dismayed As Harapan Follows Bn To Allegedly Abuse Govt Machinery

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Former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli has voiced concern over the ruling party’s culture of using government machinery and agencies during election campaigns - something he said was strongly opposed by Pakatan Harapan when BN was in power.
He said the old practice is now recurring, with large-scale programmes by government agencies in hot seats every time an election takes place, giving the impression that no reform is happening.
“Since the unity government was formed in 2022, I noticed an uncomfortable trend. Every time there is an election campaign, government agencies start racing to hold programmes in hot seats.
“Big tents, free food, looks like many people, not because of the strength of arguments, but because the government machinery comes along.
“In comparison with my experience in the Sungai Bakap by-election, I came alone; other deputy ministers were coming with outriders, official cars, complete with agencies following the convoy.
“This is not a small matter, but a symptom of the same problem we fought for 20 years against BN,” he said in a post on Facebook yesterday.
Pakatan Harapan supporters at an event in SabahRafizi also signalled that failing to curb the culture of abusing government machinery could affect the credibility of the promised reforms.
Bersih also issues warning
Earlier yesterday, Bersih reiterated its call for Sabahans to stand firm against money politics in the state election, after documenting nearly 50 incidents that could be considered election offences.
Most of them were instances of treating and giving gifts such as food baskets and free motorcycle oil changes, but there were also many instances where federal and state government machinery were allegedly used for political purposes.
“This includes the distribution of aid by government agencies, handover of land titles by state government party candidates to the people, the announcement of allocations, and the use of official government programmes to spotlight certain candidates.
“Such actions not only give the ruling party an unfair advantage, but also blur the crucial line between government business and party campaigning,” it said.
‘People think it’s just the same’
Meanwhile, Rafizi warned that the people’s perception could change if the parties that once fought for reform are now adopting the old style.
“If previously we were angry when BN used government agencies and vehicles for campaigning, today, when we do the same way, the people watch and conclude: ‘two times five, five times two’ (we’re no different).
“If the people we voted for in the name of reform also start following the old style, what hope is left for the ordinary people?” asked the former economy minister. - Mkini

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