KUALA LUMPUR – Investigation officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) have questioned up to 90 individuals in connection with cash handouts given to them as part of election campaigning by a party during the 15th general election (GE15), recently.
According to a report by Malaysiakini, citing MACC sources, the investigations come as a follow up from a viral video released during the election campaigning period last November.
The video showed people waiting in front of a building entrance allegedly collecting payment from PAS for votes.
It is learnt that MACC investigators have managed to successfully track down at least half of the 90 individuals, with the alleged recipients being called in for their statements to be recorded.
The individual seen in the video handing cash to the voters has also been summoned for questioning.
It was further reported that MACC investigators are now working towards recovering as many witnesses as possible to facilitate the investigation.
According to a source, the graft busters’ challenge in picking up the witnesses is the fact that not all of them reside in Terengganu and they mostly comprise outstation voters.
The report further stated that the MACC should be able to seal its investigations within two weeks.
The cash recipients, sources said, were identified through seized documents obtained during the probe.
The documents contained details on signatures as well as oath-taking.
The viral video that emerged during the GE15 campaign period last year alleged that PAS had been involved in vote-buying practices, which was eventually denied by its elections director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor who claimed it was a plot by rival parties.
However, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang had remarked last month that the cash handouts distributed to voters during GE15 were a charitable act.
The Marang MP also claimed that the alms were courtesy of public donations and not distributed directly by election candidates.
Previously, Barisan Nasional had filed election petitions for three parliamentary seats alleging vote buying during the campaigning period, including for the Marang constituency.
Perikatan Nasional, which includes PAS, has been accused by various quarters of misappropriating billions of ringgit in public money during its time in federal power to help fund its election campaign.
MACC has already initiated an investigation into the matter, with its probe focusing on the RM92.5 billion in government funds allegedly abused under the previous administration. – The Vibes, February 2, 2023
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