Scratching opposition voters off the government aid lists would amount to "favouritism” and “an abuse of public funds", said community movement Pantau Penampang in Sabah.

NONE Referring to the proposal by BN’s Sindumin assemblyperson Ahmad Bujang ( left ) during the Sabah assembly sitting on Wednesday, the movement’s publicist and information chief Christopher 'Toguk' Masudal said such “flawed political thinking must be corrected”.

"His suggestion is also reflective of his ignorance of the working of a democratic system of government.

“There is no such law in Malaysia which states that only BN supporters are to enjoy priority or privileges in getting government aid or subsidies.

“Doing so would be favouritism and also an abuse of public funds in a democratic and tax-paying country,” Christopher said in a statement yesterday.

He questioned whether Ahmad was trying to discourage Sabahans from voting for the opposition in the next election, saying such an intimidating move goes “against free and clean election.

'Then opposition states should not pay GST'

Christopher also pointed out that should those who vote for the opposition be denied government aid, then they should also be exempted from paying the 6 percent goods and services tax (GST).

He said this is because only BN supporters would be able to enjoy “all the aid and subsidies accruing from these taxes”.

“So, whoever voted against BN might as well be exempted from taxes,”  he said, adding that this should include residents in Pakatan Rakyat-held states such as Selangor.

“The money administered and managed by the government represents public money and is not owned by individual government political leaders.

“The government is duty-bound to utilise it without equating it with loyalty to a particular party.”

On Wednesday, Ahmad reportedly told the state assembly sitting that the BN government should not provide any subsidies or welfare for those who voted opposition, saying that if those people needed assistance, they should go to the opposition for it.

"This is to be fair to those who helped give back the power to BN,” Ahmad had said, adding that his proposal had nothing to do with revenge.