Malacca CM: Natural to help BN supporters first

Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam said that his government will prioritise BN supporters over others when aid is sought.

"If people ask for help for a job, I will give it to a BN supporter, the same if people ask for roads to be built.

"This is natural as charity begins at home," Mohd Ali (left) said with a smile.

However, he clarified that this 'philosophy' does not extend to the poor and needy, whom the government does not discriminate according to political leanings.

"When it comes to low cost housing or lack of food, we don't discriminate...Umno is sincere (in giving aid) and Allah helps those who help others.

"People will support the person who helps them," he said when met today.

Our job, but thank us anyway

Last night, Mohd Ali told about 100 people in Kampung Lipat Kajang, Merlimau that he would not be able able to "work as hard" for the villagers if they vote for PAS candidate Yuhaizad Abdullah in the Merlimau polls on March 6.

He also reminded the villagers that it was he who had allowed the land on which a temple sits on to be gazetted as temple land, and that they should be thankful him for that.

Asked why BN is using the 'gratitude card' when it is the rakyat's right to receive such treatment, Mohd Ali said, "When people berbudi (are kind) to you, you must be thankful.

"It is the government's responsibility and the rakyat's right, to be cared for but when our parents help us out we still say thank you," he said.

At the candidate's announcement last week PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang (left) chided governments who blow their trumpets when they aid the rakyat.

"It's like a father giving money to his child to go to school and telling everyone that he did so.

"What kind of government is that? That should be a given," Abdul Hadi said.

The Malacca chief minister meanwhile said that during the campaign period, he is ready to answer all of PAS' allegations about his government's mismanagement.

But instead of hosting a proper debate, Mohd Ali said he will set up events a few hundred metres from PAS ceramahs and "answer them live".