The polling season is never complete without goodies - big or small - being rolled out in the constituency facing an election.

Permatang Pauh is no different as BN and Pakatan Rakyat have kicked off their election machinery two weeks ahead of nomination day, slated for April 25.

Polling is only on May 7, with early voting on May 3, but BN and Pakatan heavyweights are already doing their rounds in the constituency.

On Sunday, Bernama reported that Deputy Prime Minister and Umno deputy chief Muhyiddin Yassin pledged RM1.2 million or RM200,000 for six schools in Permatang Pauh to build new halls.

The Umno deputy chief was in town earlier that day to meet with the party’s division chiefs and BN leaders to work out preparation strategies to face the by-election.

In an immediate response, DAP national women’s wing chief Chong Eng denounced the move as an “obvious ploy” to garner votes in the constituency, dubbed a PKR stronghold.

“He used the education building pledges for politics and politicised education,” Chong Eng said, targetting Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister.

“Such allocations should not be given during polls as it gives the impression that areas which do not have by-elections will not be considered for the funds,” she added.

The Penang executive council member then urged voters to use their votes to correct this impression of using education as a political ploy during polls.

She said Muhyiddin’s move differs from the Penang government which also allocate funds for schools throughout the year and not only during polls.

However, this morning, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng announced a RM12 million upgrade for the public and traders market in Seberang Jaya, a state constituency under the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat held by PKR national deputy chief Dr Afif Bahardin.

The other two constituencies are Penanti, held by PKR's Norlela Ariffin, and Permatang Pasir by Penang PAS deputy chief II Salleh Man.

Held at the Seberang Perai Municipal Council hall in Bandar Perda, Lim was accompanied by PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Azizah is no stranger to Permatang Pauh as she held the seat from 1999 to 2008 when her spouse Anwar Ibrahim was in jail for a conviction related to his first sodomy charge.

She is highly speculated to be the candidate again, although some quarters questioned why PKR refuses to field a candidate who is not related to Anwar.

‘Market upgrade would benefit everyone’

Asked whether the market overhaul announcement was also an election goodie, Chong Eng ( right ) denied it and questioned instead the location of the six schools which received Muhyiddin’s federal funds.

“The upgrade of the market would benefit everyone and all surrounding areas, not just the voters in Permatang Pauh.

“The funds for schools were only targetted to those in Permatang Pauh,” she added.

Asked when the market project was set in motion, Afif said the discussions about the projects had already begun since the 2013 polls, after Pakatan retained Penang against BN for a second term.

“That is why we are announcing it now and not during the by-election campaign period,” added the Penang executive councillor.

Meanwhile, Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong said Tuesday that party members will go to the ground to meet voters “face to face” to convince them to support the Umno candidate.

“Having big dinners doesn’t work on anyone,” he quipped.

However, his ally, MCA, led by its Penang liaison committee chief Chew Mei Fun, is set to hold a dinner with the Chinese community in Sungai Lembu tonight.

Not to be daunted, PKR is using the strategy to its advantage.

“Please go for the free dinner but ask MCA about the implementation of the goods and services tax and (the alleged financial mismanagement) of the 1Malaysian Development Fund (1MDB),” said state PKR deputy chief and state assembly speaker Law Choo Kiang.

Law said this at a high-tea event attended by Azizah and her daughter Nurul Iman in Sungai Lembu village.

During the session, attended by 100, mostly senior citizens, Azizah presented the village martial arts club with a spanking new lion dance set.