Johor DAP chairman Teo Nie Ching calls on MB Onn Hafiz to clarify claims that TVET students were compelled to attend a programme used for BN campaigning.
KULAI: Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has been urged to explain allegations that a group of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students was required to attend a programme that was later used to canvass support for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the Johor state election.
Johor DAP chairman Teo Nie Ching claimed the party had received complaints from parents and students alleging they were instructed to attend the Johor MARA TVET Roadshow at the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) Hall in Kluang on July 4.
Teo, who is also Deputy Communications Minister, claimed they were warned that failure to attend would be treated as absenteeism, but alleged the programme later turned into a platform to garner support for the BN candidate.
“Onn Hafiz attended the programme, and we have no issue with him attending a government event. What we question is the allegation that he used the platform to urge students to vote for the BN candidate by openly mentioning the candidate’s number.
“If this was a government programme, it should not have been used for campaigning. But if it was a party event, then I want to know whether a hall belonging to a government agency can be used for political campaigning,” she told Bernama after a ‘Kedai Kopi’ forum here today.
Also present were DAP veteran leader Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang and Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Senai seat Wong Bor Yang.
Teo said the party was also in possession of the programme itinerary, a letter directing compulsory attendance and a video recording allegedly showing the campaign-related remarks.
“I am speaking not as Johor DAP chairman, but as a mother. Imagine if your child was compelled to attend a programme and was then asked to support a political party,” she said.
On possible follow-up action, Teo said it would be up to PH candidates to consider the appropriate course, including lodging a formal complaint with the Election Commission (EC).
She also took issue with Onn Hafiz’s recent call for several federal government policies to be reviewed on the grounds that they were burdening the people, describing the criticism as unwarranted.
“When a policy is well received, they claim it as the state government’s success. But when a policy is unpopular, they blame the Prime Minister, DAP or PKR. The fact is that all major policies have to be approved by the Cabinet first,” she said.
Meanwhile, Lim urged voters in the state election to reject racial politics and unite behind the “Malaysian Dream”, which he said is founded on equality, freedom, prosperity and respect for human rights.
He said building a united Malaysia could not be achieved overnight and called on voters to consolidate their support rather than split their votes to help realise that vision.
The state election will have 172 candidates contesting 56 state seats. Early voting is taking place today, while polling is scheduled for July 11.
For the latest updates on the election, visit https://prn.bernama.com/johor/.
