UTM’s Perdana Policy Centre: Wrong for PM to use public choppers for poll campaigning
THE recent brouhaha surrounding the use of government helicopters by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for election campaigns marks an abuse of government property which belongs to the rakyat.
Although political office holders may not be aware of such ruling, it remains a fact that the incurred expenditure remains sourced from taxpayers’ money, according to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s (UTM) Perdana Policy Centre’s Associate Prof Dr Muhammad Fathi Yusof.
“Firstly, if (the abuser) were to be a civil servant, he/she would have long time subject to disciplinary action,” penned Muhammad Fathi whose views appeared in today’s HarakahDaily.
“Secondly, there must be a level playing field to ensure balanced competition as part of the principle of democratic elections. This is necessary for a clean and fair election. But it seems that PH-BN (the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional) alliance is using government machinery to win unfair advantage in the democratic competition.”
Added Muhammad Fathi: “Thirdly, there was a mix of government programmes and party programmes with the former used for campaign purposes. Government officials are deployed to make it happen while government spending is also used. Even in the FELDA programme, it was reported that participants were transported by at least 20 buses.
“Fourthly, prior to becoming PM, Anwar has promised not to use government assets for campaigning. But that changed after he became PM.”
The academician was commenting on certain quarters who defended Anwar over his action of using a helicopter to fly him to Kedah recently. Even the PH chairman defended his own action by taking a pot shot as caretaker Kedah menteri besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor:
“The chopper belongs to the government, hence why must you be hurt? It’s the governments, not mine, so you can’t use it. Only the PM can use it!”
To answer the question whether it was right or wrong for Anwar to use the helicopter, Muhammad Fathi re-visited four of Anwar’s purpose of stopping over in Kedah on the particular Friday evening (Aug 4).
Attending the Segalanya FELDA Carnival in FELDA Teloi Timur (government platform campaign);
PH-BN talk at Jitra (party platform campaign);
Alor Setar Unity Talk at Alor Mengkudu, Alor Setar (party platform campaign); and
PH-BN Jelajah Perpaduan Madani talk at the Keda Kupang night market field (party platform campaign).
“Maybe the reason given is that the entire programme is a government programme. But it seems that there is only one government programme which is that related to Felda,” deduced Muhammad Fathi.
“But if you were to follow the PM’s speech closely, the content is to ask FELDA settlers to support PH-BN in the upcoming state polls. The others are clearly party programmes for the Kedah state election.”
Muhammad Fathi further referred to a BERSIH’s comment on the matter:
“For additional travel to campaign after government assignments, the PM and his ministers have to bear the excess costs on a pro-rated basis such as the cost of helicopter rental or vehicle fuel. To uphold the principle of trust, these costs should be declared publicly for public monitoring.
“BERSIH is always aware and aware that we cannot completely prevent the use of government machinery for campaigning but politicians who have this advantage because of the trust that the people give them must always be humble and not to show off as if they are the ones who bought the machinery using their pocket money.
“The arrogant and haughty attitude shown by the PM may eventually backfire on him as the people may disagree with the abuse of government machinery for campaigning.” – FocusM, Aug 7, 2023
