KUALA LUMPUR: There will be no new major project announcements or policies during election campaigns as election laws prohibit it, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said the restriction aligns with Section 24B of the Election Offences Act 1954.
“Our position remains unchanged. Once nomination day has been announced, campaigning may proceed but there must be no announcement or promise of new projects or new policies.
“Government machinery must not be used to announce new projects during the campaign period, whether by city councils, state governments or the Federal Government,” he said during the Minister’s Question Time.
Anwar said this in reply to Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim who wanted to know whether the prohibition on announcing government allocations or projects after nomination day remains in force and how compliance will be enforced ahead of the Johor and Negri Sembilan state elections.
However, the Prime Minister said that announcing projects already approved or funded under a previous federal budget does not breach election regulations.
“On the issue specifically raised regarding election offences, I have already explained this.
“It is not allowed. 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 and mentris besar during the campaign period,” he said.
On whether it was appropriate for Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming to announce a project during Johor’s nomination day recently, Anwar said it had already been approved previously.
“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.
“It 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 said.
Regarding the cut of diesel prices, Anwar said the government had also disclosed it much earlier.
“We announced that subsidy rationalisation would start with RON95, followed by diesel implementation in the middle of this year.
“Two or three practical exercises at petrol stations were carried out to ensure there were no violations.
“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 starting from July.
