KUALA LUMPUR: There will be no new project announcements, policy launches or the use of government machinery during the Johor and Negri Sembilan election campaigns, assures Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said the government's position remained unchanged on the matter, adding that this was in line with Section 24 (B) of the Election Offences Act 1954, which had been verified with the Election Commission (EC).
"This restriction applies specifically to new projects.
"Questions have also been raised about ongoing projects, but under existing regulations, projects that have already been approved or are underway are permitted," he said in reply to a question from Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau) during the Prime Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat.
Shahidan had asked the Prime Minister whether the prohibition on announcing government allocations or projects after the close of nominations remains in force, and what enforcement mechanisms will be implemented ahead of the Johor, and Negri Sembilan state elections.
"On the issue specifically raised regarding election offences, I have already explained this. It is not allowed, and we have also presented and discussed it in the Cabinet meeting, reminding (members) in case there are concerns or overreach, this also applies to deputy ministers.
"As I said earlier, this also applies to Mentris Besar during the campaign period," said Anwar.
On whether it was ethical for Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming to announce a project on Johor’s Nomination Day on June 27, Anwar said the project had already been approved previously.
"On the issue specifically related to the ministry, I have checked, they announced projects that had already been approved.
"So in terms of election principles and regulations, that is allowed. New projects are not allowed.
"There are projects approved in last year’s budget, and we emphasise and repeat them. That is not an offence under election rules. I have checked this from a legal perspective and also with the Election Commission on the Election Offences Act," he explained.
Regarding the cut of diesel prices, he said that the government had also announced it much earlier.
"As for the issue raised about diesel, why was it announced now? If you read it properly, we announced that diesel implementation would be in the middle of this year.
"It should have been announced a month earlier, but we carried out two or three practical exercises at petrol stations to ensure there were no violations.
"So we announced that subsidy rationalisation would start with RON95, followed by diesel. To me, there is no contradiction in what has been announced nationwide," said Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister.
On June 22, Anwar announced that the price of subsidised diesel for Malaysians would be reduced to RM2.10 per litre beginning this July.
