SEBERANG PERAI, April 30 — Incumbent Seberang Jaya assemblyman Datuk Dr Afif Bahardin denied today that he has given handouts or made promises when attending state government events as a caretaker state executive councillor in Penang.

The PKR Youth deputy chief said he had strictly adhered to all rules and regulations mentioned in an advisory by the Attorney-General for caretaker governments after the dissolution of the state legislative assembly.

“I did not give handouts or mention PKR or ask people to support PKR in any state government events that I attended,” he said.

He was responding to being named in Bersih’s Hall of Shame alongside Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders and Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Mohd Hashim Abdullah.

Dr Afif admitted that the picture of him handing over a hamper was genuine, but said it had been taken out of context as the event happened while he was performing his duty as a caretaker exco during the annual Jelajah Desa event organised by the district office.

“The hamper was prepared by the district office, not me, and I was asked to hand over the hamper so I only handed over the hamper, I was careful not to mention PKR and I did not ask the people to vote for me when I was there,” he said.

He said the event, which was to visit a fire victim’s newly renovated house, was on April 15, before nomination and before his party decided on the election candidates.

He said he had been very careful to refer to the AG’s advisory on fulfilling his responsibilities as part of the caretaker state government.

“Maybe Bersih has a different benchmark and I understand that they want a fair election so I will be very careful after this,” he said.

He said a Bersih representative had contacted him even before Nomination Day and advised him.

“I thank Bersih for being neutral in monitoring all candidates and I will do my best to meet their high standards when performing my official duty as caretaker exco,” he said.

He added that he was so careful when giving speeches in state events that it was awkward for him when he went campaigning yesterday.

“I was so used to being neutral without mentioning PKR or asking people to support PKR that I was not used to it when I started campaigning,” he said.

He said he only got used to it after attending a few Pakatan Harapan ceramahs.

Dr Afif will be defending the Seberang Jaya state seat against Barisan Nasional’s Abu Bakar Sidek Zainul Abidin and PAS’ Ahmad Rafaei Rashid.

Abu Bakar was also inducted into the Bersih Hall of Shame for regularly giving treats to voters in the constituency.