YESTERDAY’s hoopla over Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s use of a government helicopter in Kedah has the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) reminding the federal government not to use government machinery for campaigning in the coming six state elections.

In a statement, Bersih reminded Pakatan Harapan that reforms advocated by the coalition “must be implemented without deviation and not merely be empty promises made during election campaigns”.

The electoral reform group added that the use of government resources during elections highlighted again the urgent need for the federal government to engage with opposition parties to enact legislation to control decisions, actions, and the use of resources by both caretaker government and non-caretaker governments during state elections.

The opposition had made an issue of Anwar’s use of a government chopper to visit Felda Teloi Timur in Sik. 

Teloi Timur is in the state constituency of Jeneri, of which the caretaker Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor is the assemblyman.

Bersih said the use of public assets should be avoided at all costs though it acknowledged the federal government still needed them to carry out its duties.

It said government duties should be “performed professionally” and, as far as possible, separated from campaign activities.

“The prime minister and ministers must avoid mixing government duties with campaign activities. For any policy announcements and provisions, the principle of ‘No 3Cs’ – no campaigning, no conditions, no candidate – must be strictly adhered to.” 

Bersih said for campaign-related travel, the prime minister and those accompanying him in the helicopters should bear transportation costs.

“In the interest of transparency and accountability, these costs should be openly declared for public monitoring,” it added. – August 5, 2023.