LIPIS: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's trip to Cameron Highlands on the last day of the constituency's by-election campaign period should not be regarded as an issue.
Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said although it was something unusual during the days of Barisan Nasional (BN) but Dr Mahathir’s trip today was to allow the people to meet the country’s top leader after the change in government since May last year.
Muhyiddin played down talks that Dr Mahathir’s visit was a last minute effort to garner support as the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition was facing the possibility of losing to BN.
“Not that Tun M is coming because we are losing support here but he is committed to assist PH during the by-election. All party leaders regardless if they have positions in the party or not will be on the ground to ensure our candidate wins...not only here but also in Semenyih next," he said referring to the upcoming by-election in Selangor.
“In the past (Prime Minister’s visit during by-elections) was not common practise....I know because I was the deputy prime minister then, I used to be directly involved in the by-elections,” he told reporters after visiting the PH operating centre in Kuala Medang, here, today.
Also present was DAP Secretary-General and Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Meanwhile, Mahyuddin denied allegations that he was involved in vote buying during the Cameron Highlands by-election campaign after a video clip showing him handing money to an elderly woman went viral.
He said the clip was taken during his visit to Penang after the floods in 2017.
“Today is my first visit here (Cameron Highlands by-election) and the video clip is an old clip which is being spread by irresponsible individuals.
“The clip was taken when I went to visit flood victims in Penang (end of 2017)...I went down to the villages to meet those affected in the floods.
"Some claim it was taken during the Cameron Highlands by-election and that is certainly not true,” he said.