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KUALA LUMPUR: Caretaker Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has accused the Selangor government of trying to stop an entrepreneurship carnival organised by the federal government from going ahead.

Ismail claimed this showed the PKR-led state government’s “true colours” and that it did not care about local traders.

He said the state government should support the entrepreneur development and cooperatives ministry’s efforts to champion small-time traders, despite their political differences.

“I was told that the state government didn’t allow this programme, but this site is privately owned and we obtained the owner’s permission, so they can’t stop it (from going ahead).

“We are organising (it) in the interests of hawkers and entrepreneurs in Selangor, not for (political) campaigning purposes,” he said while launching the carnival in Puncak Alam today.

Meanwhile, Ismail said speculation on whether caretaker finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz will contest the Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat will be put to rest soon.

He said local folk were welcoming of the Selangor Barisan Nasional treasurer, but Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi or the state chapter’s chairman will announce the party’s candidate for the seat.

Asked about incarcerated former prime minister Najib Razak being shortlisted for the Pekan parliamentary seat, Ismail said the matter will ultimately be determined by the Election Commission (EC).

“Only the EC will determine who can or cannot contest. So I will leave that to the EC,” he said.

Source: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2022/10/20/pm-accuses-selangor-of-trying-to-halt-business-carnival/