JOHOR BARU: Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has refuted claims that the Jelajah Orang Mahkota carnival was held to garner support for Barisan Nasional (BN) ahead of the Mahkota by-election.
He said the two-day carnival, organised by the state government, was instead open to the public regardless of political affiliation.
"Perikatan Nasional's (PN) Mahkota by-election candidate Haizan Jaafar and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) leaders, including Ketereh member of parliament Khlir Nor, were also present.
"The programme was for the people, not for political mileage," Onn Hafiz said today.
Yesterday, Kluang PN Youth lodged a police report at the district police headquarters, accusing BN of bribing voters by offering prizes, including motorcycles, at the Jelajah Orang Mahkota carnival, which allegedly violated the Election Offences Act 1954.
Onn Hafiz, who is Johor BN chairman, and its electoral director dismissed PN's accusations.
"Looks like PN has run out of issues and wants everything to be politicalised," he said.
The Sep 28 by-election is a straight fight between BN's Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah and PN's Haizan Jaafar. Early voting is set for Sept 24.
The election was triggered by the death of former assemblyman Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain on Aug 2.