EC busts ‘bn ceramah’ for abuse of gov’t machinery
The Welfare Department and a deputy minister were left red faced yesterday after a function they were involved in was stopped by the Election Commission.
The Barisan Nasional ceramah at Sama Gagah village was stopped following complaints by PKR officials that government machinery was being abused for campaigning purposes.
Led by EC officer Sulaiman Abdullah a team of enforcement officers visited the scene, accompanied by complainants, PKR treasurer-general William Leong, PKR, Youth deputy chief Faris Musa and Pantai Jerajak state rep Sim Tze Tzin.
Their surprise visit prompted Deputy Information, Communications and Culture Minister Heang Siak Kee to stop her speech half-way and vanish from the scene.
Sulaiman and his team also inspected a bus bearing the the Welfare Department logo and later instructed the bus driver to take the bus away.
Later, Sulaiman ordered a counter run by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to be closed immediately.
Ministry officers were seen frantically taking down buntings and other materials, while trying to avoid press photographers, before leaving on another bus.
