KUALA LUMPUR – Barisan Nasional’s (BN) election petition regarding three parliamentary seats won by PAS is based on the one-off financial aid given to Terengganu voters under the i-Siswa, i-Belia and i-Pencen programmes.
Terengganu Umno chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Said claimed that it was “morally wrong” to be giving voters the money a few days before the November 19 polling day.
In a press conference at Umno headquarters here today, he alleged that numerous Terengganu locals were given one-off financial aid of varying amounts under i-Siswa and i-Belia during the campaign period, while some senior citizens received RM600 under i-Pencen.
He added that the financial aid was given between November 15 and 17, while funds were disbursed in the Kemaman constituency on the night of November 17.
“Morally, it is wrong, as it was given a few days before the election day.
“(The funds) do not just come from the state. Parties have also handed out money to voters, including loyal Umno voters,” he alleged.
Ahmad said it is difficult to obtain statements from the individuals who received the aid, as they refused to cooperate after discovering that the investigation would involve going to court.
He claimed that he received evidence from three out of eight constituencies.
Amin Othman, the lawyer representing the Umno candidates, said the petitions involving the three constituencies are filed under the Election Offences Act 1954.
“After seeing evidence and statements by witnesses, we filed our petition for Marang, Kuala Terengganu, and Kemaman constituencies under the basis of bribery during the campaign and voting period of GE15,” he said, stating that all three constituencies saw “bribing” of locals with the i-Belia and i-Siswa programmes.
Amin also made reference to a viral video which allegedly depicted a PAS official handing out money to locals, instructing them to vote for the party.
He added that the precedent for the petition is a similar case in 2018, where the Election Court nullified then-candidate for the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat Datuk C. Sivarraajh’s victory.
With the petition, he hoped the court would nullify the results of the three parliamentary contests.
BN had filed election petitions against Perikatan Nasional (PN) for vote buying in three Terengganu constituencies – Marang, Kemaman, and Kuala Terengganu.
The Marang seat is currently held by PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang.
The Kuala Terengganu seat is currently held by Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim, the PAS lawmaker recently sued by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for defamation after he accused the Pakatan Harapan chairman of lying about receiving a salary of only RM1 when he was Selangor’s economic adviser.
Meanwhile, the Kemaman constituency is held by Che Alias Hamid, a two-term incumbent there.
On January 9, Umno information chief Isham Jalil claimed PN won many seats in the recent general election due to corrupt practices such as vote buying.
Isham went on to say that GE15 was the “dirtiest” election to date as instances of vote buying were widespread. – The Vibes, January 16, 2023
