JASIN: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has defended Barisan Nasional’s campaign in Rim after Pakatan Harapan lodged a police report alleging that its candidate used government premises and machinery to campaign.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Barisan chairman, said the coalition campaigned within the rules and pointed out that other parties held events attended by their own ministers and deputy ministers.
"When a group feels desperate, it will look for all sorts of excuses.
"I don’t think we need to make a big issue of it," he told reporters at a higher education and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) roadshow at the Jasin Municipal Council's (MPJ) Alamanda hall on Tuesday (Nov 3).
He urged all parties to campaign cleanly and respect the verdict of Melaka voters when they go to the polls on Nov 14.
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A Pakatan representative lodged the report at Jasin district police headquarters on Monday (Nov 2) against Datuk Khaidirah Abu Zahar, who is defending the Rim state seat for Barisan.
PKR central leadership council member Siti Aishah Shaik Ismail said the complaint concerned Khaidirah’s attendance at a Deepavali event at the Rim Japerun Complex, where contributions were handed out to about 30 recipients.
Siti Aishah was reported to have said that the complex housed Khaidirah’s office as incumbent RIM representative, but argued that it should no longer be used for political programmes following the dissolution of the state assembly.
She said photographs and recordings relating to the complaint had been handed to police.
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Separately, Melaka Barisan chairman and caretaker Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said preliminary information indicated that MPJ had used the hall to distribute aid to the Indian community.
He said Khaidirah was at the venue as part of her visits to polling districts and had no role in the aid programme.
Ab Rauf said he would leave the matter to the authorities to investigate.
