'I'm not campaigning, I just want your votes'

 

by

Kuek Ser Kuang Keng 7:35PM Apr 18, 2013

Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today used his capacity as caretaker defence minister to garner the electoral support of army personnel in an official event, but stressed that he is not campaigning.

"I'm not asking for your support, I'm not campaigning. No, I merely ask for your votes, that's it. The press, don't write this ya!” he said in laughter to some 600 army personnel and veterans this afternoon during a get-together session at the Tebrau army camp in Johor Baru.

Ahmad Zahid (left) explained that the secrecy and transparency of army votes will be protected with the unprecedented implementation of advance voting for security forces in this general election, and that it will dispel rumours that their ballots were crossed by their supervisors without their knowledge.

“Go ahead and cross whoever you want, as long as you cross BN. (The media) don't report ya,” he said again jokingly.

The event saw Ahmad Zahid presenting badges to veterans after giving a speech which trumpeted the contributions of Najib Abdul Razak’s administration to the army and ex-servicemen in the form of insurance, allowance, medical aid, dividends, as well as the introduction of time-based automatic promotion without having to go through examinations.

He stressed that as a prime minister and finance minister who has helmed the defence ministry for 14 years, Najib has been raising the welfare of army personnel during his four-year premiership.

“I believe that if he gets a new mandate (in this general election), there would be more incentives for the army members.
   
“High-ranking officers (in the army) will also be taken care of after the prime minister gets a new mandate.”

Ahmad Zahid urged the servicemen to ensure that Johor remains as the “safe deposit” of BN to safeguard their interests.

“Why (did) some people from Ipoh Timor came to contest in Johor? Because they thought they can make Johor a new political base.

'Johor must be defended'

“Johor must be defended because we don't want our agenda for the armed forces to disappear when Johor falls.”

The incumbent Bagan Datoh MP then slammed the opposition for not doing anything for the servicemen when they were in the government, but only to give various promises just before the election, referring to the five retired army leaders who will be standing as Pakatan Rakyat candidates.

Commenting on the intrusion of Lahad Datu, Ahmad Zahid claimed that the self-proclaimed Sulu sultan Jamalul Kiram III had been provoked by certain people to occupy Sabah, and that it was related to the general election.

“They promised that if they become the government, Sabah would be given to Jamalul so he could be the sultan of Sabah,” Ahmad Zahid claimed, before stressing that he did not name the people behind the intrusion.

During a press conference later, the combative minister reiterated that BN will ensure that Johor becomes the burial ground for DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang (left) and PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub.

“I have met with the leaders in Johor. Umno wants to make Johor the political graveyard of top opposition leaders who contest in Johor, and end their political careers in Johor.”

Although Najib had earlier signed the integrity pledge initiated by Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M) to commit himself to a clean and fair election, his ministers have been seen abusing the government machinery to fish for votes.

On Tuesday, caretaker Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and caretaker Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai urged some 6,000 Chinese primary school teachers - who were instructed to attend an Education Ministry event in Johor Baru - to support the leadership of Najib.

link - http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/227271