PAKATAN Harapan politicians are not allowed to accept any gifts, although flowers and food are fine, said Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.

The wife of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said this as she thanked well-wishers who had been sending their congratulations since the May 9 polls.

The message was relayed by her daughter, Marina Mahathir, on Facebook this afternoon.

“Mum has asked me to pass a message to all of you. Ever since the election win two weeks ago, she has received so many well wishes from so many of you, congratulating her and Dad. She is very grateful and appreciative of your kind thoughts, prayers, and messages.

“However, accompanying many of these congratulations are flowers, food, and other gifts. She has asked me to request that there be no more gifts sent because one, the rule in the Pakatan Harapan government is that no politician is allowed to receive any gifts other than flowers or food; and two, as modest as the gifts might be, they do take up a lot of space,” Marina said.

The well-known activist wrote that her parents were not moving into the official Seri Perdana residence, but would stay in their own home.

“It’s comfortable, but really does not have space for any more stuff.”

Marina also said her mother asked for well-wishers to understand and not send her Hari Raya gifts.

“Instead, she requests that you please make donations to any charity of your choice. That would please her very much,” she wrote in her post that was accompanied by a photo of her parents on their first day back in Putrajaya.

Dr Mahathir and his new PH administration, made up of former opposition parties DAP, PKR, Amanah, and his own Bersatu, have pledged to introduce reforms and clean up the federal government after 61 years of Barisan Nasional rule.

One “clean up” exercise targets 1Malaysia Development Bhd, the brainchild of former prime minister Najib Razak.

It has been alleged for years that money from 1MDB had been stolen and used by individuals linked to Najib to purchase luxury assets overseas.

Najib was also accused of receiving RM2.6 billion in his personal accounts.

Last week, police spent days raiding Najib’s Taman Duta home, his old office, and other premises linked to him.

Over 280 boxes of designer handbags and 72 bags of cash, watches, and jewellery were seized from a Pavilion Residences condominium.

Authorities revealed that the cash seized from the premises surpassed RM300 million. – May 23, 2018.