Minister defends giving donation to school in Tg Piai
TG PIAI POLLS | Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Salahuddin Ayub has defended his move to give contributions to a school in Tanjung Piai despite an ongoing by-election in the constituency.
He noted there are no laws prohibiting ministers from providing contributions to schools at any time...
TG PIAI POLLS | Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Salahuddin Ayub has defended his move to give contributions to a school in Tanjung Piai despite an ongoing by-election in the constituency.
Salahuddin (photo) noted there are no laws prohibiting ministers from providing contributions to schools at any time.
“There is no law in our country that says whether we can give during by-elections or not.
“I’m a minister. I can (give contributions) anytime,” he told reporters at the parliament lobby today.
He was asked to comment on a Facebook post that “exposed” him providing an RM5,000 contribution to SRJK (C) Pei Chio in Kukup Laut, Tanjung Piai, yesterday.
The Facebook user under the handle “Ops Johor” claimed this amounted to an election offence.
Salahuddin, who is also the Pulai MP, claimed that he was merely delivering promises that had been made beforehand.
“I met with the Parent-Teacher Association. Coincidentally, I handed over contributions that I have promised before the by-election.
“You see, the letter (asking for contributions) was sent to me several months ago.
“Just like my constituency in Pulai, the teachers there (in Tanjung Piai) know me as a minister is who is also a Tanjung Piai native. They asked for contributions and I handed it over yesterday to that school and several other schools,” he said.
The Tanjung Piai by-election was called following the death of its incumbent MP Dr Md Farid Md Rafik due to heart complications.
The Election Commission has set the polling day on Nov 16, while advance polling would take place on Nov 12.
The by-election would see a six-corner fight between MCA’s Wee Jeck Seng, Bersatu’s Karmaine Sardini, Gerakan’s Wendy Subramaniam, Berjasa’s Badhrulhisham Abdul Aziz, and two independent candidates Ang Chuan Lock and Faridah Aryani Abd Ghaffar.
