Kuala lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated that the announcement of new projects or policies during election campaigns is prohibited under election laws. He said the restriction is in line with Section 24B of the Election Offences Act 1954.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Prime Minister emphasized that the government's position remains unchanged. Once nomination day has been announced, campaigning may proceed, but there must be no announcement or promise of new projects or new policies for the state concerned. Anwar highlighted that government machinery must not be used to announce new projects during the campaign period, whether by city councils, state governments, or the Federal Government.

Anwar stated this during the Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today, in response to Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau). Shahidan inquired about the prohibition on announcing government allocations or projects post-nomination day and how compliance would be enforced ahead of the Johor, Melaka, and Negeri Sembilan state elections.

The Prime Minister clarified that announcing projects which had already been approved or allocated funding under a previous federal budget does not breach election regulations. Addressing Shahidan's supplementary question about an allocation announced in Johor by the Housing and Local Government Minister, Anwar explained the project had been approved earlier and the ministry was merely reiterating an earlier decision.

Anwar also addressed the government's announcement to reduce the price of subsidised diesel for Malaysians to RM2.10 per litre, as part of the planned implementation of the targeted fuel subsidy programme, covering both RON95 petrol and diesel. He noted that the policy had already been announced and it is a nationwide policy, hence not contradictory.

In response to another supplementary question from Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa (BN-Tampin) on the use of government assets and facilities during election campaigns, Anwar confirmed that existing guidelines remain in force. He remarked that these guidelines were established long before his tenure as prime minister and were reaffirmed during the tenure of Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob. Anwar added that a caretaker government cannot announce new policies or make policy decisions, particularly those with financial implications, and any breaches would prompt action from the Election Commission.