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The Star
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Ayer Kuning polls: Saarani defends Mohamad Yusri's presence during state programme
TAPAH: Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad has defended Dr Mohamad Yusri Bakir's presence during an official state programme here on Saturday (April 19. The Perak Mentri Besar said he believes that it was not wrong for the Barisan Nasional's Ayer Kuning by-election candidate to attend the "Town Hall with Youth" programme at the Tapah Sports Complex, as he was merely there to "meet and greet". "The candidate needs to go to where there are crowds, to meet with the people, whether it is a night market, farmers' market or a field where people are playing football. "These are the easiest locations for him to meet the people because it is not easy for a candidate to go and meet all 31,897 voters," he said in a press conference after closing a parenting seminar at SM Sains Tapah here on Wednesday (April 23). The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) has recently claimed that election offences were committed during the campaign by unity government leaders. These included Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi pledging for development projects in Ayer Kuning to continue if the Barisan wins the by-election, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu giving "duit raya' to attendees during a Hari Raya open house organised by the Farmers' Organisation Authority and the town hall programme. Saarani said he does not believe that an offence was committed during the town hall programme. "I have been a (general election) candidate six times. I encourage him (Mohamad Yusri) to go wherever there are opportunities, even inside a bus with 50 passengers, to meet with people. "To me, it is not an offence. They (Bersih) can report it to the Election Commission and let them decide," he said. The state by-election, which is on April 26, was called following the passing of Barisan incumbent Ishsam Shahruddin in February. In the 15th General Election, Ishsam polled 9,088 votes and won by a 2,213-vote majority, defeating Pakatan Harapan's Mohd Nazri Hashim, Perikatan Nasional's Muhammad Noor Farid, Pejuang's Maziah Salim, and Parti Sosialis Malaysia's KS Bawani. Mohamad Yusri will be up against Bawani and Perikatan's Abd Muhaimin Malek.
New Straits Times
23-04-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Saarani shrugs off Bersih claim, says let EC decide
TAPAH: The Perak Menteri Besar has dismissed allegations of electoral misconduct following the presence of a Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate at a recent town hall event held here. Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said that if the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) believed that any misconduct had taken place, they should lodge a report with the Election Commission (EC) and allow the proper investigation process to take its course. "During elections, if there's a public gathering, the candidate should attend. He wants to meet people and shake hands. "If there's a night market, he'll go to the night market. If there's a farmer's market, he'll go there too. Wherever there's a crowd — be it at a football match or elsewhere — it's a chance to meet voters. "That's the easiest way to engage with people. It's not simple for a candidate to individually reach out to 31,897 voters," he said. He told reporters after attending the closing ceremony of a Parenting Seminar organised by Yayasan Perak at Sekolah Menengah Sains Tapah earlier today. Saarani was responding to Bersih's concerns over alleged misuse of government resources during the campaign period for the Ayer Kuning by-election. In a statement issued yesterday, Bersih criticised Saarani's presence at an official state programme titled Town Hall with Youth, held at the Tapah Sports Complex. Saarani had reportedly appeared alongside the BN candidate, which Bersih claims constituted an abuse of government machinery for campaign purposes. The Kota Tampan assemblyman, who has contested in six general elections, argued that it was common for candidates to take opportunities to connect with the electorate wherever possible. "He has to meet people. If he knows there are 50 voters on a bus, it's not wrong for him to stand up, greet them, and shake hands. "As for the town hall, he knew people were gathered, so he went to meet and greet. I don't consider that a violation. The opposition always claims everything is a breach. "Even Bersih has always done this. So I don't want to comment further. If Bersih wishes to report the matter, let them do so with the EC and allow it to be investigated," said Saarani, who is also the Perak BN chairman. The Ayer Kuning by-election was called following the death of incumbent Ishsam Shahruddin on Feb 22. The by-election sees a three-cornered contest between BN candidate Dr Mohamad Yusri Bakir, Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Abd Muhaimin Malek, and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) candidate K.S. Bawani.
Malay Mail
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Bersih flags alleged misuse of govt resources in Ayer Kuning by-election, cites events attended by Zahid, Mat Sabu and Saarani
KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 – Electoral reform group Bersih has today raised alarm over several alleged abuses of government resources during the campaign period for the Ayer Kuning by-election in Perak. In a statement, the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections cited three key incidents that it said violated the principles of free and fair elections, potentially undermining the integrity of the electoral process. 'Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi pledged on April 12 that development projects in Ayer Kuning would continue if the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate wins the by-election,' Bersih said, describing the statement as a conditional promise that constitutes an abuse of government resources. Bersih said at a separate event in Tapah, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu was reportedly seen distributing 'duit raya' to attendees during a meet-and-greet session organised by the Farmers' Organisation Authority. It said could be considered inducement of voters under the Election Offences Act 1954. Bersih also criticised the presence of Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad at an official state programme titled 'Town Hall with Youth' at the Tapah Sports Complex. Saarani had reportedly appeared alongside the BN candidate, alleging this amounted to a misuse of government machinery for campaign purposes. 'These incidents reflect a clear breach of the principle separating government functions from party activities,' the group said. Bersih called on the Election Commission to issue firm guidelines to prevent such conduct and urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate possible elements of political corruption related to the campaign. The group further warned that such abuses of power during elections could erode public trust and damage democratic processes. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had defended Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming for announcing the RM6.13 million in allocations for 33 development and public infrastructure projects in Tapah. Anwar clarified that the announcement of development project allocations was made before the nomination day for the upcoming Ayer Kuning by-election, and warned that any announcement of government allocations must not be made during an election period. The Ayer Kuning by-election was called following the death of incumbent Ishsam Shahruddin on February 22. Early voting starts today. This by-election sees a three-cornered fight between BN candidate Dr Mohamad Yusri Bakir; Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Abd Muhaimin Malek; and Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) candidate Bawani KS.
