JASIN: Allegations that Barisan Nasional candidate for the Rim seat, Datuk Khaidirah Abu Zahar, had used government premises and machinery during the Melaka election campaign are nothing but “excuses by desperate opponents”, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
The BN chairman said he did not see the matter as a problem, as other parties had also organised events attended by their respective ministers and deputy ministers.
Zahid said he hoped all parties would campaign fairly and cleanly, respect the people’s choices and avoid raising issues that could trigger unnecessary controversy.
“When a group feels desperate, it will look for all sorts of excuses and raise various issues, perhaps because it is really desperate.
“I do not think we need to make a big issue out of this,” said Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister, after launching the Higher Education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Roadshow at Dewan Alamanda here today.
He said all parties in a democratic country should abide by the rules during an election campaign and refrain from using unnecessary matters as excuses to blow issues out of proportion.
“I hope we can campaign in a fair and clean manner. The people may have already made their respective choices.
“Do not use negative incidents or trivial matters as excuses to create various issues,” he said.
He added that controversies arising during the campaign period should not distract from the more important task of allowing voters to decide on their preferred candidates.
The level of voter support for the candidates would only become clear when polling takes place on Nov 14, he said.
It was reported yesterday that Pakatan Harapan lodged a police report against Khaidirah, also known as Dira, over allegations that she had misused government machinery and premises while campaigning.
The report, lodged at the Jasin district police headquarters by PH representative Siti Aishah Shaik Ismail, included allegations over the use of the JAPERUN Rim Complex for a Deepavali aid presentation ceremony, food baskets bearing the Jasin Municipal Council (MPJ) logo and the presence of MPJ uniformed personnel displaying the candidate’s image.
Earlier today, Melaka BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ab Rauf Yusoh said he would leave it to the authorities to investigate the allegations involving Khaidirah.
Rauf, who is also caretaker chief minister, however said that preliminary information showed the MPJ had used the JAPERUN hall to distribute aid to the Indian community.
He said Khaidirah, better known as Dira, was at the location to visit polling districts and was not involved in the aid distribution programme.