IT is against international good practices to use government machinery and resources in an election compaign, electoral watchdog Bersih told the government again.

Bersih said the Inter-Parliamentary Union Declaration states there must be separation between the government and party to ensure free and fair elections.

It was responding to Deputy Works Minister Ahmad Maslan, who said yesterday that it was not wrong for cabinet members to organise programmes or announce funding during an election.

Ahmad, who is a member of the Umno Supreme Council, said such matters had been brought to court but the court had never sided with the complainants.

Bersih reminded Ahmad that the court had last year annulled the victory of Kuala Terengganu MP Ahmad Amzad Hashim after it was proved that corruption had taken place in the 2022 general election.

“Bersih will continue pushing parties in the coalition government, especially those from Pakatan Harapan, to fulfil their own promises,” it said in a statement.

It said all parties must adhere to the 3Cs guideline (no campaign, no condition, no candidate) at federal or state events during election time.

“Don’t repeat the same mistakes. It is important for the government to plan and give a proper timeline on when it would implement reforms to the electoral system.”

Bersih has criticised Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming for announcing allocations for the Sungai Bakap constituency.

It had also raised similar concerns after the government announced allocations and conducted programmes just before the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election last month. – June 26, 2024.