MIRI – As the curtain draws down on campaigning for the 12th Sarawak election, allegations of vote buying by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidates are spiralling.
The latest incident saw PKR candidate Mahmud Epah lodging reports with police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) against GPS incumbent in the Asajaya constituency Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah.
The report alleged that Karim was organising a “lucky draw” on polling day and asking constituents to collect “attractive prizes” after they cast their ballots tomorrow.
Sarawak MACC head office in Kuching today confirmed that it has received the report from Mahmud.
In a press statement, the Sarawak MACC confirmed that Mahmud and his lawyer Dominic Ng had gone to the MACC office to lodge the report.
“The report was lodged first to police by the complainant who then came to MACC with his lawyer to submit the same report,” the statement said.
Mahmud said he had also submitted a video clip of the alleged lucky draw promotion by Karim.
Campaigning for the state election has witnessed allegations of cronyism, cash handouts, free beer handouts to rural longhouse folk, gambling bookies accepting bets on polling results, and the latest, “election lucky draw”.
Polling in all 82 state constituencies kicks off tomorrow. – The Vibes, December 17, 2021
