Negeri Sembilan PPBM chief Rais Yatim said government resources should be distributed according to merit and the rule of law.
“His speech may have received a resounding applause, but it is not good to be implemented. The idea will not work,” he said.
In his speech to delegates at the PPBM general assembly today, Rashid, the former Election Commission chairman, said the party’s division leaders should be helped with government contracts, as having resources to fight in elections would allow the current government to maintain its power.
Rashid also said PPBM must do everything it could to win elections “by hook or by crook”, adding that it was “stupid” to think that party leaders should not get help from the government.
The remarks drew criticism from a DAP leader who said Rashid’s speech was against Pakatan Harapan’s policy.
“This is absolutely against the very values and foundation of Harapan,” said Howard Lee, who heads the Perak DAP Youth.
“We must purge all forms of patronage politics, and those in Harapan who show signs of practicing and promoting it. That we must. By hook or by crook,” he said in a statement.
PPBM Youth information chief Ulya Aqamah Husamudin also disagreed with Rashid.
“If there are party members who wish to participate in a tender process, they can go ahead. They will be awarded if they are deserving and have merit.
“We will not tolerate and will never agree with the abuse of power or direct awarding of contracts,” he said.
Ulya said the party must be geared towards creating Malaysians of integrity.
MACC is watching, says Dr Mahathir
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters at the end of the PPBM general assembly today, its chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad said there was no favouritism in awarding government contracts to PPBM members.
Saying Rashid’s call could be considered as long as it was within the law, Mahathir said there was now a level-playing field to ensure only those capable would be awarded tenders.
“We are against corruption. But some of our people are very capable. They were discriminated against under the past administration.
“If they get the contracts, don’t assume that it is because they are from the party,” he said, adding that those seeking government contracts must go through the proper channel.
“We cannot be assured of everything. There is MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission). If they (party members) do anything wrong, you can be sure MACC will descend upon them. It doesn’t matter what their rank is,” he said.