“They have said before to not buy votes before the election, not use government machinery, not use government positions to buy votes.

“But now they’re the ones buying votes,” Ismail told reporters at the Parliament today.

Yesterday, former prime minister Najib Razak listed several allocations for public projects within the Tanjung Piai constituency, saying some RM7.3 million worth of projects has been announced within less than a week.

They include the installation of 264 street lamps in the rural areas of Tanjung Piai at a cost of RM127,776, grants worth RM230,000 for village chiefs, RM4 million to improve sports facilities and RM3 million to upgrade fishermen jetties.

Ismail said the government had more than a year to make the allocations, but chose to announce them before the by-election.

“It’s clear that PH is not honouring its promise (of not using government machinery).”

Last week, Bersih 2.0 took PH to task for announcing federal projects and allocations close to the by-election.

The election watch group has urged PH to bar federal ministers from visiting Tanjung Piai.