PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today reaffirmed that only announcements involving new government projects are prohibited once an election campaign begins, defending Housing and Local Government (KPKT) Minister Nga Kor Ming against criticism over allocations announced ahead of the Johor state election.
Speaking during Prime Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat, Anwar said projects that had already been approved under the existing federal budget could still be announced before nomination day without breaching election laws.
“If announcements are made before nomination day, the rules allow it, so it does not violate ethics. What violates ethics is cursing, insulting, defaming and lying. Those are much bigger ethical issues that we must avoid.
“I checked what he (Kor Ming) announced. They were projects that had already been approved. Under the election rules, that is allowed. What is not allowed is announcing new projects.
“There are projects approved under last year's Budget which we merely emphasise or reiterate. There is nothing wrong with that,” he said in reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau).
Anwar said he had referred to Section 24B of the Election Offences Act 1954 and received confirmation from the Election Commission that announcements involving new projects are prohibited once the election campaign period begins.
“Once nomination day has been announced, campaigning may continue, but there should be no use of government machinery or announcements of new projects or new state policies. That is the rule, and it applies to new projects.
“There have been issues raised because existing projects continue. Under the rules, continuing projects that have already been approved is permitted. What is not allowed is using government machinery to announce new projects during the campaign, whether by city authorities, state governments or the Federal Government,” he said.
The Prime Minister was responding to questions over whether the prohibition on announcing new government allocations and projects after nomination day remains in force ahead of the Johor, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan state elections.
Anwar also defended Nga over an announcement made on June 25, two days before nomination day for the Johor polls, involving RM216.44 million in federal allocations for housing development, public facilities and community welfare projects in the state.
The allocations included RM2.5 million for upgrading and repair works at 10 apartment blocks in Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, Skudai, which later featured in campaign material by the Democratic Action Party's Skudai candidate, J Kartiyani.
Anwar acknowledged that ministers should exercise caution to avoid public misunderstanding, but maintained that reiterating previously approved allocations does not constitute an offence under election law. - June 30, 2026
