‘Feel good’ cash handouts begin

The frequent cash gifts are aimed at lulling locals into thinking it's 'normal' and invariably favouring BN on May 5.

KOTA KINABALU: As the campaign period enters its final stretch, reports of “feel good” cash being freely distributed in various parts of Sabah by participating parties have started to flow in.

Alongside these reports are questions as to who is monitoring and auditing how much these parties are spending. By the looks of it, it appears that millions of ringgit is involved.

Malaysia’s election laws state that candidates are only allowed to spend a minimum amount on their campaigns and all candidates must also submit to the Election Commission (EC) a breakdown of their spending after the election results are announced.

Failing to do so will disqualify these candidate from re-contesting in any election for the next five years.

But this is Sabah, a place some describe as the “wild west” of Malaysia. Monitoring and auditing are merely words in a dictionary.

People on the ground who claimed knowledge of such activities alleged that money was being carried in safe boxes hauled up in four-wheel-drive vehicles and delivered to Barisan Nasional “markas” and even people in coffeeshops.

In Kepayan near here, residents claimed that BN leaders including candidates were handing out cash in RM50 denominations to voters in their respective areas.

“They just asked the voters to go to their booths to check their names on the EC electoral rolls and then get a slip noting a confirmation. Then he or she will meet a paying agent somewhere, sometimes in coffeeshops as in the case of Kepayan,” alleged one man, whose claim was repeated by others.

One shop operator, who requested anonymity, told FMT that a candidate was sitting at a corner shaking hands with well-wishers and kept pointing to another corner where his agents were distributing the RM50 notes.

There were also claims in other areas in Sabah that the latest round of cash was the “third time” to encourage voters to favour certain BN candidates.

Safe boxes of cash

In southern Sabah, too, locals claimed that certain vehicles, sometimes marked with party flags, travelling in the BN entourage were carrying safe boxes that were full of RM50 and RM100 notes.

“They [BN people] go to all the ‘markas parti’ and meet their people, distributing money considered as ‘sweeteners’ and ‘a necessity’ during election campaigns, with the cash handouts sometimes adding up to RM10,000 per ‘markas’.

“They also give to individuals whom they like. They also give on request by some who are quick to take advantage of the situation by pleading for help from these money men,” said a voter from Kuala Penyu.

Elsewhere in Sabah, similar stories also cropped up and many have started to look at it as “normal” during election time.

“Political party people always travel with cash in rural areas. If they have no money, how can they run their campaigns and fund the election machinery in kampungs and mukims?” said a political worker known only as Donald from Kota Marudu.

Meanwhile in Ranau, the State Reform Party (STAR) candidate for Karanaan, Jalibin Paidi, a former school principal, when contacted, said he also heard and received reports that the ruling BN party would distribute more money on the eve of polling day on May 5.

“We do not know the truth but surely embattled BN would play such tricks to sway voters to its candidates.

“But I think not all people would be influenced by this kind of money politics,” said Jalibin, who is in the fray for the first time.

Yet another BN politician admitted that safe boxes are necessary to carry big amounts of cash around.

“You don’t expect us to carry cash money in our pockets or plastic bags, do you?” he told FMT.