KLUANG: The Opposition criticised the state government for its rice distribution programme just days before nomination day for the Mahkota by-election.
State Bersatu deputy chairman Mohd Solihan Badri said Barisan Nasional is using this tactic to woo voters.
“Our campaign workers have come across photos of bags of local rice, which are not easy to get these days, kept at their voting district centres (PDM),” he said in an interview.
Mohd Solihan claimed the rice was distributed to certain people only.
He hopes the voters are aware of Barisan’s tactics.
“Why is this rice distribution coming now? It’s just an excuse for them to attract the voters,” he added.
Bersatu associate wing chief Dr Chong Fat Full said he expected Barisan to get non-governmental organisations as a third party to distribute the rice so that it would not look too obvious.
He believes that this tactic may work in this by-election as many people are facing financial difficulties.
“The voters may decide to choose Barisan because of the rice donation,” he added.
During a ceramah on Wednesday night, Bersatu supreme council member Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said other than the rice distribution programme, there were also three Jualan Rahmah programmes in the last two weeks.
“Local rice is not easy to get, but when there is a by-election, I heard that about 17,000 bags of local rice have arrived.
“We should be having elections every month,” he said.
When contacted, a Johor Barisan Nasional leader denied the election goodie accusation.
“Bantuan Kasih Bangsa Johor is not a new initiative. It has been around for the past two years, and aid distribution is made from time to time.
“It is not just distributed in Mahkota or Kluang alone, but all over the state,” said the leader.
Meanwhile, Deputy Works Minister and Pontian MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said there was nothing wrong with it as it was done before nomination day.
“We can give whatever we want before nomination day, before the campaign period starts.
“The rice under Bantuan Kasih Bangsa Johor had already been distributed, and there are no plans to give it during the campaign period,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
