DEPUTY Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s announcement about the allocation for youth programmes in Terengganu was not linked to the August 12 state elections, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar, who is also Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman, said the announcement was made a day before nomination, which was yesterday.

“There are people who suggested (there should be) no announcements (about allocations) at all, but this was not possible because I am prime minister; I have to take care of the country. If (the allocation) is important then we (the government) will announce it.

“But I have already said the state machinery cannot be used and that (such announcements) cannot be used for campaigning, from yesterday (nomination) until polling day. That is the decision of the cabinet,” he told reporters after speaking at the closing ceremony for National Consumer Day 2023 Kuala Lumpur today.

Anwar was commenting on PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man’s criticism against Zahid’s move to announce allocations for Terengganu youth associations on the condition they vote for PH and Barisan Nasional (BN), calling it bribery.

Zahid, who is the rural and regional development minister, made the announcement in Bandar Al Muktafi Billah Shah on Friday.

It included an allocation of RM100,000 to the Central Terengganu Development Authority’s youth association and RM 200,000 to the Terengganu Malaysia Youth Council. – Bernama, July 30, 2023.