MINISTERS visiting Cameron Highlands before the by-election campaigning period have not flouted any election laws, but the appearances are unethical, said electoral watchdog Bersih.

Alexzander Johnson, a Bersih steering committee member, said ministers should wait until after the January 26 by-election to make their visits and hold programmes at the parliamentary constituency.

Members of the cabinet, including Human Resource Minister M. Kulasegaran, Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar and Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail have all visited Cameron Highlands since the parliamentary constituency was declared vacant. Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook is expected to visit the constituency tomorrow.

“Based on the Election Offences Act, it (the prohibition on the use of government machinery) comes into effect after nominations, but by right it should cover when the election is announced in November,” Alexzander said at a press conference today.

“In principle, it is wrong for them to do such things like focusing on Cameron Highlands,” he said.

The Cameron Highlands seat fell vacant after an election court found Barisan Nasional won the seat in the 14th general election by bribing local Orang Asli communities.

Bersih executive director Yap Swee Seng also said candidates would no longer be allowed to participate in free dinners and concerts thrown for them without including the cost of the events in campaign expenses.

“According to our election laws, campaign activities in support of candidates must get the approval of the election agents of the campaign activities of each election candidate.

“The expenses of the campaign activities have to be included in the financial reports of candidate’s expenses during the election period. The maximum a candidate can spend is RM200,000,” said Yap.

He said if other people were allowed to throw dinners for the election candidates, then it defeats the purpose of having an expenditure limit for election candidates.

Yap said the public’s role in reporting irregularities would play a vital role in ensuring a clean and fair election.

“We highlighted the abuse of government resources. The free dinners, free concerts, and we were able to stop them, like the free durian fest in Sungai Kandis,” he said.

“After we highlighted that it was an election offence, they postponed the free durian fest until after the by-election. If they continued, it would be obvious that it is to fish for votes.” he said. – January 6, 2019.