MELAKA: Melaka Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh has left it to the authorities to investigate allegations that the coalition’s Rim candidate, Datuk Khaidirah Abu Zahar used government premises and machinery for campaigning in the state polls.
Ab Rauf, who is also caretaker chief minister, said preliminary information indicated that the Jasin Municipal Council (MPJ) had been using 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.
“Firstly, I see this from a different perspective because I was informed that the JAPERUN hall was a venue being used by MPJ to provide assistance to the Indian community,” he told reporters after visiting the BN main operations room for the Pengkalan Batu constituency here today.
He said Khaidirah’s presence at the location was unrelated to the programme in question.
“I was informed that yesterday was the day for the issuance of postal ballot papers. Dira was there to visit the polling districts, and her presence had nothing to do with the programme,” he said.
However, Ab Rauf stressed that his explanation was based on preliminary information and that he did not want to pre-empt the authorities’ findings.
“I leave it to the authorities to investigate and look into the matter in detail. It is up to their discretion to assess Dira’s presence at the location,” he said.
It was reported yesterday that Pakatan Harapan lodged a police report against Khaidirah over allegations that government premises and machinery had been used during her attendance at a Deepavali aid presentation ceremony at the JAPERUN Rim Complex.
PH claimed that the programme, which involved about 30 recipients, also included the distribution of contributions bearing the MPJ label, raising questions over possible misuse of government facilities during the Melaka election campaign.