State polls: Campaign with empty pockets, Tok Mat advises BN candidates

SEREMBAN: Keep your pockets empty while campaigning and refrain from making statements involving Umno and Barisan Nasional, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

This terse message from the Barisan deputy chairman was directed at all 108 of the coalition's candidates contesting in the six upcoming state elections on Aug 12.

He said all candidates should strictly abide by this advice during campaigning to ensure they and the party do not face unnecessary problems in the run-up to the polls and after the elections.

"It is normal for people to ask politicians for financial assistance, donations or sedekah (alms) when you are in the middle of campaigning and if you oblige, this can be misconstrued as buying votes.

"My advice is to not do charity or give any donations during the period as you are also giving ammunition to others. It can be used to challenge you later on if you win the election.

"You must remember there are people out there who wish to win by default," he said in his speech after presenting letters of appointment to Barisan candidates on Friday (July 28).

Mohamad also reminded them not to respond to or make any statements regarding Umno or Barisan, and leave it to the leaders to handle such matters.

"When you campaign, reporters and others are going to ask you many questions.

"Your focus should only be on your constituency. Work hard, visit as many localities and know your strengths and weaknesses.

"Do not make any statements as these can be used to cause a rift among us," he said, advising candidates not to respond to queries outside their respective constituencies.

Separately, Mohamad said Negri Sembilan Barisan was confident of making a clean sweep of the 17 seats it is contesting in the state.

However, he reminded the party machinery to work hard to ensure this happens.

"We won five parliamentary seats in the last general election but we must remember that a state election is a different affair altogether.

"On paper, we have the advantage but let us not take this for granted as our adversaries may resort to slander to get votes," he said.

There are 36 seats in the legislative assembly. In the last general election, Pakatan Harapan won 20 while Barisan bagged the remaining 16.

On another matter, Mohamad said the tagline for Barisan's manifesto for the six state polls was Unite for Stability and Prosperity (Perpaduan Demi Kestabilan dan Kemakmuran).

He said each state involved will have a local theme and pledge.

"We will keep it simple and realistic as we do not want to make promises we can't keep.

"We must remember that we have to go back to the rakyat every five years and can't make pledges we can't deliver," he added.