PONTIAN: Johor Menteri Besar Dr Sahruddin Jamal has refuted accusations that the RM1,000 aid for fishermen in southern Johor is an election offence.
This, he said, was because the aid would only be paid after the Tanjung Piai by-election is over.
He said the special aid, totaling RM1.5 million, would be paid in full to fisherman according to three zones, with Tanjung Piai being the last.
“Payment will be made in full according to zones, starting with Pasir Gudang, Johor Bahru, and Tebrau; Gelang Patah and Pulai; then Pontian and Tanjung Piai.
“The first payment will be made to fishermen in the first zone next week,” he told reporters at the reopening of the Kukup International Ferry Terminal, here, today.
He said the special aid is given annually to the fishermen and did not need to wait for the tabling of the state government’s budget.
Asked why the payment was only announced now, Dr Sahruddin said: “We just approved this in the (exco) meeting yesterday.”
Dr Sahruddin announced the RM1.5 million allocation for fishermen in southern Johor after a state exco meeting in Iskandar Puteri, yesterday.
A total of 1,513 fishermen will benefit from the aid. From the total, 432 are in Gelang Patah, 537 in Pasir Gudang and Johor Bahru, and 544 in Pontian and Tanjung Piai.
Election watchdog Bersih 2.0 had in a statement claimed that Pakatan Harapan’s action of extending aid to the fishermen not only contravened the law, but was also unethical.
The NGO said they were “disappointed” with the government’s conduct, in which government resources were abused during campaigning in the Tanjung Piai by-election.