Wed Sep 18 01:56:00 UTC 2024: ## Johor Rice Aid Distributed Before Mahkota By-Election Campaign, Says Ahmad Maslan
**KLUANG** – Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan has dismissed allegations that the Johor state government’s “Bantuan Kasih Johor” initiative, which included the distribution of rice aid, was being used to influence voters in the upcoming Mahkota by-election.
Speaking at a press conference following a Mid-Autumn Festival celebration on Tuesday, Ahmad Maslan emphasized that the rice distribution occurred before the nomination day, thus preceding the official campaign period. “We can give whatever we want before nomination day,” he clarified.
His statement comes in response to claims made by Perkasa president Syed Hassan Syed Ali during a Perikatan Nasional ceramah, who alleged that the unity government intentionally delayed the aid to distribute it during the by-election. Syed Hassan further claimed that the presence of Forest City would lead to China taking over Malaysia.
Ahmad Maslan dismissed these allegations as slander, stating that the aid was distributed prior to the campaign period and that Forest City residents are not Malaysian citizens. He urged all candidates participating in the by-election to avoid spreading false information.
The Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, and other local leaders were present at the press conference.
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