Zahid to Hadi: Election cash handouts are corruption not charity
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi accompanied Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to the MCA Chinese New Year Open House at Wisma MCA in Kuala Lumpur today. - Photo: Bernama
In a retort to Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang's claims that such cash handouts were not against the rules and were a form of charity to voters, Zahid also called on the PAS president to stop "trying to change the law", stating that Islamic scholars were required to uphold integrity and blurt out opinions at will.
"If he (PAS) does it, it’s charity, if we (Umno) do it, it’s a corruption. To all Islamic scholars, please don't change the law, don't change the fatwa (decree), said Zahid, speaking to the media on the sidelines of the MCA Chinese New Year open house here today.
Hadi was reported as referring to cash handouts to the public during an election campaign as not against the rules and were a form charity to voters.
MCA’s Chinese New Year celebration today was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Other leaders present at the event were Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan, Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan and Umno Vice President Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
