BARISAN Nasional will use government agencies against Pakatan Harapan as the general election approaches, DAP’s Bukit Mertajam MP warned voters at a ceramah in Permatang Pauh last night.

Steven Sim Chee Keong said recent arrests of PH politicians by federal authorities was proof of this.

One was Bersatu’s Zahid Mat Arip, who was detained for investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission over Felda Investment Corporation’s overpriced hotel purchase in Kuching.

Zahid Mat Arip, who was an aide to former Felda chairman Isa Samad, was recently arrested after he criticised Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi in a video.

“He criticised the DPM for exposing PH chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s identity card information and making untrue claims. Next, he was arrested.

“The same had happened to people who expose wrongdoing, like (Petaling Jaya Utara MP) Tony Pua and (Pandan MP) Rafizi Ramli; and now we see that with Penang government exco Phee Boon Poh,” he said.

Phee was arrested on Friday while giving his statement at the MACC’s Penang office over letters he wrote about an illegal factory in Sungai Lembu, Bukit Mertajam.

Phee, the state executive councillor in charge of the environment, is being probed for allegedly using his position to get gratification. Yesterday, the court registrar granted MACC an order to remand Phee for five days. 

“We fear nothing when we are in the right. Phee gave his full cooperation to assist the probe but the courtesy was not returned. He was arrested on the spot.

“Thieves and kleptocrats, at the same time, are not facing such action,” he said.

Sim said investigations were welcome, but the authorities should be fair to all parties.

“As Dr Mahathir had said before, investigate everyone…the RM2.6 billion thief and the cows in the condo. Be fair,” he said, referring to the purported donation that Prime Minister Najib Razak admitted to receiving, and the National Feedlot Corp (NFC) scandal.

NFC had received government funds to raise cattle, but instead invested the money in luxury condominiums.

Sim also said “the most poisonous weapon” would be racism, or “asabiyyah”, with DAP’s political rivals calling it anti-Islam and anti-Malay, while Bersatu chairman Dr Mahathir’s Indian roots being dug up.

“They say there are no place for Malays in Penang. So what race are the people all in front of me?”

Sim, who was popular with the crowd of some 1,000 people as he could quote Quranic verses, told the people that BN would also use money because they could not offer a clean government, good economy or unity.

“So they will use money. What the government gives you, that is your money. Take it as it is your right. It is the government’s responsibility.

“But when it comes to the polls, you vote according to principles. Choose a clean government that can defend the people, not a kleptocracy,” he said.

PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar said PH would reform federal agencies and institutions, apart from education and economic reforms, to improve salaries and jobs for youth and graduates.

“We want to make sure the attorney-general does his work for the people, not for Umno. 

“We want reforms in MACC. They picked up Phee. He had courage so he went to MACC himself. When will we see that with Zahid Hamidi? They are selective,” she said, referring to Dr Mahathir’s allegation that Zahid had RM230 million in assets.

Many of the other speakers also talked about low, stagnant salaries and the rising cost of living, blaming it on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the 1MDB scandal.

“1MDB is a get-rich-quick scheme that had led the people to become victims. That is because the government is the guarantor. To let BN stay in power, we will end up a failed state,” Balik Pulau PKR division chief Abdul Halim Hussain said.

“They (BN) think rasuah is a halal to consume. That is their practice,” Penang Bersatu chief Marzuki Yahya said.

He also spoke about budget cuts that have caused people having to spend more, and government hospitals dispensing less medicines.

Amanah vice-president Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa said PH could do away with GST by tackling leakages, which the Auditor-General’s Report found to be 15% (between RM20 billion to RM30 billion) of the allotted budget due to misappropriation, corruption and mismanagement. – August 13, 2017.