Zahid defends allocations, denies 'normalising corruption'

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has defended his recently announced government allocation for youths, saying they are necessary to support young people in the country.

According to Sinar Harian, the Umno president denied he was trying to normalise corruption as alleged by Muda president Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman.

“He (Syed Saddiq) can say whatever he wants, but what is important is that the youth need sufficient allocations to carry out their activities.

“Whether it’s youth associations at the district, state, or even the Malaysian Youth Council,” he told reporters at a press conference in Kota Bharu, Kelantan today.

He also took a dig at Syed Saddiq, comparing Muda with parties that lost their deposits in the 15th general election last year.

Previously, Zahid, the rural and regional development minister found himself in hot soup over his speech when announcing the allocations provided by his ministry at an event.

After revealing that the ministry will give RM250,000 to the Terengganu Youth Council and RM200,000 to motorcycle teams throughout the state, Zahid then asked the youths present at the event to vote for the “blue and red wave” in the Aug 12 state elections.

Aside from Syed Saddiq calling Zahid out for his speech on Twitter, Terengganu Muda also lodged a police report against the BN chairperson earlier today at the Kuala Terengganu police district headquarters.

In a statement, the party alleged that Zahid’s speech carried elements of bribery and urged the Election Commission to closely monitor the state polls for possible instances of corruption.

Similarly, electoral watchdog Bersih criticised him over the same speech, saying he violated two of the 3Cs prohibited during the elections – ‘no campaign’ and ‘no conditions’.

The group previously proposed the 3C ban on July 20 as a guideline for the federal and state governments during the election season:

1. No conditions should be attached to the fulfillment of any announcements or allocations made to voters such as the parties or candidates winning in the upcoming election. Any commitments made by the federal government should be fulfilled regardless of the outcome of the state elections.

2. No campaign during official federal functions where references are made to the upcoming elections, names of parties or candidates are mentioned, and party symbols or flags are displayed. No allocations are to be made selectively for constituencies to help certain parties to wrest or retain such constituencies.

3. No candidates should be present in federal government functions unless they are also federal ministers themselves when special announcements or allocations are made.

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