PAS cries ‘foul’ over BN election promises

ARCHIVES 2009

By MT Webmaster On Oct 8, 2009

(Malaysian Mirror) – In the Manek Urai by-election in July, the Barisan Nasional said it would provide the people there a bridge to connect the new and old parts of the small rural town in Kelantan.

In the current run up to the Bagan Pinang by-election in Negri Sembilan, the Barisan has allegedly promised a military camp it will, among other things, get for it a swimming pool and upgrade its precinct surau to cater for the Friday congregation.

PAS said these promises tantamount to vote-buying and, furthermore, a military camp is supposed to be out of bounds for political campaigning.

Reports for police, MACC and EC

The party will file reports with the police, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Election Commission on the issue, PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan At-Tantawi told a press conference at the PAS head office in Jalan Raja Laut here Thursday.

PAS Youth will back the reports with evidence that these election promises were made by Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Mohamad Hasan, when speaking at a Hari Raya ‘open house’ at the Institut Kejuruteraan Darat (IJED) in Kem Kampung Sawah, near Port Dickson, on Oct 6.

Nasrudin alleged that the mentri besar had offered to provide RM100,000 to upgrade the surau at the institute, purportedly to make it more convenient for the soldiers at the camp to perform their Friday prayers there rather than go out of the camp for the purpose.

Played video for newsmen

Nasrudin said Zahid, an Umno vice-president, told the audience that the government was set to improve the facilities at the camp with a swimming pool, a futsal court, a library and a tuition centre besides providing WIFI convenience for internet surfers.

Zahid allegedly also offered to provide education aid for military children who qualify to go for further studies at institutes of higher learning.

Nasrudin played a video recording of the purported speeches by Mohamad and Zahid at the press conference.

He described the actions of the two Barisan leaders as ‘unethical’ and in breach of the Election Offences Act.

He added that it was necessary for PAS to make the reports as they might be useful in the event PAS decides to go to court to declare the Oct 11 by-election null and void.