NIBONG TEBAL: Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Mazlan has challenged electoral reform group Bersih to challenge a court ruling that announcing allocations or organising programmes was not an offence during by-elections.
"Why is Bersih not challenging the previous court decision?
"I challenge Bersih to do so (challenge the court decision) on the matter," he told newsmen after the Ceramah Perpaduan in Sungai Duri here.
Bersih had earlier taken the deputy works minister to task for saying it was not an offence to announce allocations or organise programmes during by-elections.
Bersih said Ahmad's claim would only perpetuate such unethical practices.
It further said that abusing government funds and machinery went against the principles of a clean and fair electoral process.
Elaborating, Ahmad said he merely followed the court decision.
"Isn't Bersih all about upholding the laws?
"I challenge Bersih to check and challenge that court case," he added.
Ahmad said he had followed all the by-elections since 1990 except the one in Batang Ai, Sarawak.
"So, I know many stories since 1990. I have been a politician for a long time so I know about this case.
"So again, I challenge Bersih to study about the case first," he said.
Ahmad, had at a ceramah on June 24, said that announcing allocations or organising programmes during by-elections was not an offence.
He said while such matters had been brought to court, the decisions had never sided with the opposition parties that raised them.
Meanwhile, asked if he was confident that the over 5,000 Umno and Barisan Nasional members in Sungai Bakap would vote for Pakatan Harapan's Dr Joohari Ariffin in the by-election, he said while there were 5,000 registered members, there were more than 10,000 more party supporters.
"So, I am hoping that the members and supporters will vote for our candidate.
"We have not heard anything about boycott or such.
"Let us all come out to vote for the unity government because it is only the state and federal governments can resolve the people's issues.
"The opposition at the federal level is not able to do that, what more at the state level. Confirm they can't solve anything," he said.
The Sungai Bakap by-election has been fixed for July 7.
It was triggered following the death of the assemblyman Nor Zamri Latiff on May 24.
Joohari is in a straight fight with Perikatan Nasional's Abidin Ismail.