Deputy Minister slams misuse claim
(TheStar) – Pahang PKR chief Fuziah Salleh has demanded that a blogger retract an accusation that she misused government-owned assets for campaigning purposes.
Fuziah, who is Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said she had taken leave from her official duties in Putrajaya and was using her own vehicle throughout the campaign period of the Cameron Highlands by-election.
“I strongly deny the accusation and I challenge the blogger to come forward and not hide behind a blog.
“The blogger must apologise and retract the accusation within 24 hours or I will take legal action,” Fuziah said.
A video clip, which has gone viral, shows a Pakatan Harapan flag attached to a four-wheel drive vehicle believed to belong to the Pahang Forestry Department.
It also shows a group of people confronting two occupants in the vehicle. A Jalur Gemilang flag hanging on the door is pulled away to reveal a Pakatan flag, which is then removed to show the state Forestry Department logo stamped on the vehicle door.
The driver can be seen wearing a Pakatan T-shirt and political flyers are also seen inside the vehicle.
Pahang state secretary Datuk Seri Dr Sallehuddin Ishak said the vehicle was on loan to a ministry for the official use of a deputy minister.
“However, after a political party symbol was attached to the vehicle, I have ordered that the vehicle be returned to the state government immediately,” he said in a statement on his Facebook page.
Pahang PKR Youth chief Mohd Mustaqim Abdul Jalil lodged a police report on the blog posting.
He said Fuziah had used her personal assets for the by-election and urged the authorities to take action against the blogger.
In Cameron Highlands, Barisan Nasional candidate Ramli Mohd Nor lodged a police report yesterday over the alleged misuse of the vehicle by Pakatan.
Ramli also lodged a second report, alleging that Raub DAP MP Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji tried to grab a smartphone from his assistant and allegedly uttered rude words at the passengers of a car Ramli was travelling in at Sungai Koyan.
Commenting on the 4WD vehicle incident, Cameron Highlands OCPD Deputy Supt Ashari Abu Samah said police had received one report.
He urged members of Barisan’s camp to assist investigations by having their statements on the issue recorded.
“It is still being investigated and there has been no decision yet on its classification. We are waiting for the complainant from Barisan’s camp to record a statement,” DSP Ashari said.
Election Commission (EC) chairman Azhar Azizan Harun said the EC was probing the alleged offences by parties contesting in the by-election, including the use of a government department vehicle for political campaigns.
In a statement, he said the EC had held a meeting with Malaysian Corruption Watch president Jais Abdul Karim, who was appointed the EC observer for the by-election, to gather information and cooperate with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on the matter.
Azhar also said the EC had been informed of the police report lodged by Ramli.
