Inappropriate to link government incentives to election bribe says Razif

KUALA TERENGGANU - The incentives and allocations announced by the central government should not be associated with corruption, as they are not involved in the process of the state elections.

Former Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman said the central government is not temporary or involved in the Terengganu state polls and by-elections.

"There is no genuine issue (for the central government to give incentives and aid).

"The central government and the six dissolved states are separate entities. Consequently, any incentives announced to address the challenges and difficulties faced by the people should not be a problem," he said after inspecting the Kedai Payang Supermarket project here on Sunday.

He was asked to comment on Terengganu Pas Youth filing a report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) regarding the issue.

In addition to Pas Youth, the Malaysian Democratic Alliance Party (Muda) also reported the matter to the police on Saturday, claiming that it has bribery elements.

Commenting further, Ahmad Razif, also a Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Seberang Takir seat, said that initiatives and grant-giving announced by BN President Ahmad Zahid would not affect the state polls this August.

"Don't worry, it won't have any effect because the people have already voted. Typically, those who worry are less confident, so what do they have to fear if someone is confident?" he said.

On Friday, the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) confirmed allocating an additional RM100,000 grant to Terengganu Central Development Authority Youth Association (Ketengah) to develop the group's activities in Terengganu.

The announcement was made by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi during the Premier Generation Sustainable Youth Association (LesGU) gathering in conjunction with the Sentuhan Kasih Desa program in Bandar Al Muktafi Billah Shah, Terengganu.