JASIN: A 51-year-old woman who received Deepavali assistance said she was frustrated after being contacted by police over a controversy involving Barisan Nasional candidate for the Rim seat, Datuk Khaidirah Abu Zahar.
Kalai Magal Kanniah, from Taman Seri Kerayong, said she was shocked when she received a telephone call from the Jasin district police headquarters last night, asking her to come forward in connection with an incident at the Rim State Assembly Development and Coordination Committee (Japerun) premises.
She said she had merely visited the premises on Monday to collect festive assistance distributed by the Jasin Municipal Council (MPJ) and was unaware of any controversy surrounding the programme.
“Yesterday, I received a call about the assistance from the council, so I went there to collect it.
“But last night, I received another call, this time from the Jasin police, asking me to go to the police station.
“I was shocked because I had only gone there to receive the assistance. They told me there had been an issue at Japerun.
“I told them I knew nothing about it. I went there, collected the assistance and returned home. I had no idea what had happened,” she said when met at her home.
Kalai Magal also denied receiving any contribution directly from Khaidirah, stressing that the assistance came solely from MPJ.
“She did not give me anything. I did not receive any assistance from her.
“The only assistance I received was from the municipal council. That was all,” she said.
The controversy arose after Pakatan Harapan (PH) lodged a police report alleging that government facilities and resources had been misused to benefit Khaidirah’s campaign.
Kalai Magal said being drawn into the matter had caused unnecessary inconvenience, as she had work commitments and preparations to make for the Deepavali celebration.
“It is certainly troublesome. We have to work, and with Deepavali approaching, there are also preparations to be made at home.
“Please do not make things difficult for ordinary people. There are only a few days left before the celebration,” she said.
Asked whether other recipients had also been contacted by police, Kalai Magal said she was told that everyone involved would be called in.
“I asked why I had to go, and they told me they had called everyone.
“But I do not know whether the others have actually been contacted. As far as I know, I am the only one in this neighbourhood who has received such a call,” she said.
She added that she did not receive the festive assistance every year, estimating that she was selected for the programme about once every two years.
Meanwhile, Khaidirah has denied any involvement in organising or distributing the Deepavali assistance, maintaining that she was at the premises solely to observe the postal ballot verification process for the Rim constituency.