KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 — Minister of Economy Rafizi Ramli denied today suggestions that any federal government projects announced in the weeks leading up to the state elections are meant to boost the Pakatan Harapan-Umno coalition’s campaign.
As then Opposition, PH leaders had often accused the ruling coalition of using federal government projects to bolster its standing. Election watchdogs like the Coalition for a Free and Fair Elections (Bersih) have described these announcements as a type of inducement aimed at wooing support.
“When you talk about project announcements, I think what we referred to are quick-fix ‘Maggi projects’ just for that locality just because there’s an election,” he told reporters after speaking at the 2023 International Law Conference here.
“That one is a given. I think the instructions from the prime minister are clear, there won’t be any.”
Leaders from previous administrations have been accused of attempting to make the same inducements. The Election Commission has never explicitly banned politicians from the caretaker government from announcing government projects on a campaign trail.
Rafizi said any federal projects scheduled to be unveiled during the election period will commence as usual, citing the ambitious Progressive Wage Policy slated to be announced in early August.
Nomination day will be on July 29 and polling on August 12, giving contesting parties two weeks to campaign.
“Just because the government is going into the state elections doesn’t mean it cannot proceed with its policies,” he said.
