Grants for Terengganu youths nothing to do with polls, says PM

PETALING JAYA: The more than RM500,000 grants for Terengganu youths have nothing to do with the state polls, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic) explains.

The announcement of the grants was made by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi a day prior to the nomination day on July 29, he said.

“The Federal Government still runs as usual. It (the announcement) has nothing to do with the state polls.

“Some people suggested no announcements; this is not possible.

“I am the Prime Minister in charge of the entire country. We have to announce important matters,” said Anwar during a Rahmah initiative event at Bukit Jalil Pavilion yesterday.

Taking the event as an example, Anwar said it was planned three months ago.

“It was a ministerial decision from a while back,” he added.

Anwar, who also cited the recent launch of the Madani Economy framework, added that it was decided much earlier, before the state polls.

“So, must we postpone all this? No, the work must be continued. I think people have to be fair.

“But certainly, I do not want the candidates to be around; there should be no party posters, and it should be purely a government event,” added Anwar.

He also emphasised that there should be no use of public funds or government projects to campaign for the Aug 12 state polls involving Kedah, Penang, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Terengganu and Kelantan.

On July 28, Ahmad Zahid announced the approval of allocations of RM250,000 for the Malaysia Youth Council in Terengganu, RM200,000 for a motoring association in the state, and RM100,000 for a youth organisation.

The announcement has become an issue, with certain parties accusing it of being a form of vote-buying.

On this, Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said there was no element of corruption in awarding the government grants.

The grants were a form of government initiative, not vote-buying, he added.

“This is a ruling government, which could implement the initiative beneficial to the people.

“To me, there is no problem with the grants as it is a government initiative.

“As such, if the grants were approved by the government, it is not a form of bribery,” he said in a Sinar Harian report.