The people of Tenang have been receiving windfalls since the by-election was called, including money and gifts from government agencies and related agencies, all claiming it is just business as usual.

tenang by election hamper 230111 02 BN representatives say the goodies are merely "regular assistance due to underprivileged residents" from the various government agencies.

Regardless of the reasons given, how to receive "election goodies" has become the hottest topic in Tenang coffeeshop talk.

Malaysiakini interviewed several voters who had received such "assistance", based on tip-offs from the local people.

A 40-year-old single mother residing in Labis, who requested she not be named as she feared reprisal, showed Malaysiakini a RM50 hamper, an ang pow packet with RM200  and 12 feet of fabric that she received in a function at the Labis municipal council hall last week.

""I don't know who was the organiser. I think there were more than 100 beneficiaries. The organiser gave out RM200 cash, hampers and fabric. The cash was put in a white envelope,” she said.

According to her, Labis MP Chua Tee Yong and Johor exco Tan Kok Hong of the MCA were present as VIPs and one of them called on those present to support the BN candidate.

Tan when contacted denied that the goodies were from MCA, saying that they were provided by the Welfare Department.

"This is not vote-buying. We did not do so. These activities are carried out by the relevant government agencies throughout the year. How can we direct the department around?" he said.

Cash for flags

Another female voter also claimed that her neighbour was given RM1,000 cash for putting up four BN flags and a banner with Najib’s portrait in his house compound throughout the campaign period.

tenang by election 230111 1 malaysia group distribute goodies 1 Another woman voter said her neighbour was given RM1,000 cash for putting up four BN flags and a banner with Najib’s portrait in his house compound throughout the campaign period.

She said the kindergarten in which her nephew is studying has called parents to inform them that families earning below RM2,000 are entitled to RM450 cash.

However Malaysiakini could not verify this claim with the relevant authorities.

However, ever since the by-election for Tenang was called, it has been observed that many government agencies have focused their programmes and assistance schemes in the constituency.

Tenang - Shafie Apdal giving goodies to orang asli Najib, in his visit to Tenang on Tuesday, announced an allocation of RM1.31 million to upgrade all the mosques, surau and religious schools in the three Felda settlements in the constituency.

Yesterday Rural and Regional Development Minister Shafie Apdal also promised 20 new free houses to tthe people of two orang asli villages in the constituency.

What makes this even more interesting is that MCA president Chua Soi Lek - who holds no government post - has also announced that Tenang New Village will get a new basketball court.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported today that Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Noh Omar has dismissed the notion that the ministry's programmes in the Tenang state constituency were instant projects implemented because of the by-election.

He said the programmes were on-going, such as the ministry-with-the-people programme, which is held monthly.

"For example, last year we had more than 15 programmes, none of which had anything to do with elections," he told reporters after launching a young entrepreneurs development programme at the Labis square in Tenang.