Permatang Pauh by-election: Ismail Sabri defends statement over allocations

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri (pic) has justified his much-criticised statement over allocation of Government funds, saying that it is easier for him to aid BN representatives in obtaining funding for any particular constituency compared to those from the Opposition.

"I know Suhaimi (Sabudin) personally and it is easier that we are from the same party. No one from the Opposition has come to ask me for allocations for their constituency," he said in a Facebook posting Monday.

Several online portals had reported that the Agriculture and Agro-Based Minister said he would not approve any development funds or allocations for Permatang Pauh - an area highly dependent on agriculture - if PKR candidate Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail won the by-election on May 7.

Ismail Sabri made the statement while giving a speech during campaigning for the Parmatang Pauh by-election on May 1.

He also said that he was saddened that some Barisan National component parties had chosen to attack him instead of the Opposition.

"It is disheartening to also see Umno supporters attacking me on social media," he said.

Ismail said the Opposition also discriminated along political lines, as proven by the fact that the DAP-led Penang government had rejected several development proposals by the Federal Government to build low-cost houses and Pasar Tani (farmers' market) in the area.

"Is DAP fair and approve allocation requests from Umno reps? Do Umno-led constituencies get fair treatment? The answer is no," he said.

"Don't be fooled by (Penang Chief Minister) Lim Guan Eng and DAP who are pretending to be angels. It is they who should be criticised instead," he said.

The Permatang Pauh by-election will see a four-cornered fight between Suhaimi (BN), Dr Wan Azizah (PKR), Azman Shah Othman (PRM) and independent Salleh Isahak.