No new projects, no new promises: PM Anwar draws the line on election handouts

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated that the announcement of new projects or policies during election campaigns is prohibited under election laws.

He said the restriction is in line 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 for the state concerned.

“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 in the Dewan Rakyat today.

The Prime Minister said this in reply to Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau), 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, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan state elections.

Anwar said, however, that announcing projects that had already been approved or allocated funding under a previous federal budget does not breach election regulations.

On Shahidan’s supplementary question about an allocation announced in Johor by the Housing and Local Government Minister, Anwar said the project had already been approved, and the ministry was merely reiterating an earlier decision.

The same goes for the government’s announcement to reduce the price of subsidised diesel for Malaysians to RM2.10 per litre, a move which he said formed part of the planned implementation of the targeted fuel subsidy programme, covering both RON95 petrol and diesel.

“That policy had already been announced. The targeted subsidy programme begins with RON95, followed by diesel. It is a nationwide policy, so I do not see any contradiction,” he said.

To another supplementary question from Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa (BN-Tampin) on the use of government assets and facilities during election campaigns, Anwar said existing guidelines remain in force.

“The government decided on these guidelines long before I became prime minister. It would not be appropriate for any prime minister to travel without official security arrangements or government vehicles.

“The decision was reaffirmed during the tenure of Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob. The same principle applies to chief ministers and menteri besar, but they must remember they are serving in a caretaker capacity.

“A caretaker government cannot announce new policies or make policy decisions, particularly those with financial implications. If there are any breaches, I have been informed by the Election Commission that action will be taken,” he added. — Bernama