PAS camera squad to track BN campaign

Veiled threats by Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam have apparently spread across the Merlimau constituency, as door-to-door campaigners are also taking the cue from him, according to PAS.

The party will therefore launch a ‘camera squad’ today to try and catch BN in the act of intimidating voters and possible vote-buying, said election director Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman (left).

"We will have camera squads trailing the BN campaign, sometimes in the open and at times in stealth. We are announcing it now as we are here to educate them to practise healthy democracy," he told reporters.

Abdul Halim claimed that the party has received complaints from voters.

"Some persons, who we believe to be representing Umno, have threatened residents, saying that if they vote for PAS, Merlimau's allocated funds will be retracted," he said.

Last Saturday, Mohd Ali (right) had  told residents of Kampung Lipat Kajang that if they vote for PAS, he would not be able to help them much if they ask for aid.

"I would like to tell Merlimau voters that the trend is for BN to pour lots of resources into areas taken by Pakatan, as it wants to win back those areas,” noted Abdul Halim.

"It is only if you keep voting BN that they'll ignore you...so they should vote for Pakatan...even though it does not change who governs Malacca.”

PAS information head Idris Ahmad, meanwhile, showed reporters a leaflet said to have been distributed to residents across Merlimau, particularly in Malay villages.

It features a photo of PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and an article with the headline Melayu hilang kuasa (Malays to lose power), with the sub-heading reading Anak cucu bagaimana? (What will happen to your children and grandchildren?)

The leaflet was placed in letter-boxes in residential areas.

Idris said he received a complaint about the leaflet from an official of a mosque in the constituency after dawn prayers today.

'Rules not broken'

Deputy BN head Muhyiddin Yassin, however, denied the PAS claims, saying that it has run out of tactics and is embarking on a smear campaign.

"There are rules to guide the by-election and BN has never broken the rules," he told a press conference at a secondary school in Merlimau.

He also raised the issue of PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat having been seen giving wang zakat, implying that PAS has been involved in bribery during a by-election.

"There is a photo of Nik Aziz giving money. Never mind, let the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) investigate," he said.

Muhyiddin had ealier announced an allocation of RM18.4 million as a 'reward' to some 586 principals whose schools have performed well.