National Patriots Association president Brig-Gen (Rtd) Mohamed Arshad Raji said the minister had caused “undue influence” by telling military personnel to return Barisan Nasional to form the federal government “by a huge margin so that the agendas can be realised”.
Arshad, quoting a Bernama report, said: “By making such a comment, the defence minister might be deemed to threaten, induce, or attempt to induce the military personnel into voting for BN. As such, he might have committed an offence of ‘Undue Influence’ under Section 9 of the Election Offences Act 1954”
He said Hishammuddin’s remarks might be construed as telling the members of the armed forces that they could lose the “agendas” such as education, healthcare, housing, welfare of veterans, and direction in ensuring defence preparedness and security needs of the country.
“Let me remind the minister that what matters is not what is being planned such as education, welfare, or hospitals; rather how the government officials execute the plan.
“There must be no corruption, no wastage, and no cronyism in giving out projects,” Arshad said.
He added that if the planned projects were good for the people and country, any clean government could carry out the projects.
“What is of utmost importance is a clean government.”
Most members of the armed forces are granted early voting privileges and will cast their votes today.
Hishammuddin had said yesterday military personnel should think carefully about the choice they make when voting today because their welfare was at stake.
“If there is no big mandate returned (to the Barisan Nasional), the way I see it, the next five years, there will be no other work but politicking and politicking. Hence, the importance of BN winning by a huge margin so that the agendas can be realised,“ Bernama quoted him saying.