JELEBU, July 29 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today assured the Orang Asli community that government allocations for them would not be withdrawn should Pakatan Harapan (PH) be given another mandate to govern Negeri Sembilan after the upcoming state election.
He gave the assurance in response to claims being circulated that allocations for the Orang Asli community would be withdrawn if certain candidates failed to win the election.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said any approval or withdrawal of government allocations is determined in accordance with the law and the Federal Constitution, and not based on election results or political interests.
“Some people have been telling the Orang Asli that if this person does not win, the allocations will be withdrawn. I am the one who approves those allocations.
“These allocations are provided in accordance with the law and the Federal Constitution. The Finance Minister approves them. As long as everything is done properly, I will continue to provide them. There is no problem,” he said at an afternoon tea session with PMX at the Chennah state constituency in Simpang Durian here today.
Also present was Transport Minister Anthony Loke, who is also the PH candidate for the Chennah state seat in the upcoming polls.
Loke, when met by reporters, expressed hope that the Prime Minister’s assurance would give the Orang Asli community the confidence to make their choice without being influenced by threats or misleading information.
He said there had been claims that certain parties were spreading propaganda throughout the campaign period to create concern among Orang Asli voters over government allocations.
“We hope this election will be contested based on facts and the truth, without any elements of intimidation or fearmongering... this is what we must uphold.
“This has been the message I have consistently conveyed throughout my two-week campaign to the Orang Asli community - that no one should threaten any party or any voter,” he said.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said any approval or withdrawal of government allocations is determined in accordance with the law and the Federal Constitution, and not based on election results or political interests.
“Some people have been telling the Orang Asli that if this person does not win, the allocations will be withdrawn. I am the one who approves those allocations.
“These allocations are provided in accordance with the law and the Federal Constitution. The Finance Minister approves them. As long as everything is done properly, I will continue to provide them. There is no problem,” he said at an afternoon tea session with PMX at the Chennah state constituency in Simpang Durian here today.
Also present was Transport Minister Anthony Loke, who is also the PH candidate for the Chennah state seat in the upcoming polls.
Loke, when met by reporters, expressed hope that the Prime Minister’s assurance would give the Orang Asli community the confidence to make their choice without being influenced by threats or misleading information.
He said there had been claims that certain parties were spreading propaganda throughout the campaign period to create concern among Orang Asli voters over government allocations.
“We hope this election will be contested based on facts and the truth, without any elements of intimidation or fearmongering... this is what we must uphold.
“This has been the message I have consistently conveyed throughout my two-week campaign to the Orang Asli community - that no one should threaten any party or any voter,” he said.