Hampers, offer letters row: Najib ticks off Bersih

SEMENYIH POLLS | Former prime minister Najib Razak has taken a swipe at electoral reforms coalition Bersih over its silence on the distribution of hampers and house renovation offer letters allegedly made during the campaign trail for Pakatan Harapan's candidate Muhammad Aiman Zainali.

In a Facebook post today, Najib also noted that while Aiman has denied the hampers and offer letters were distributed by Harapan, Bersatu chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin has admitted to the act but claimed it was not an attempt to buy votes.

"This is the first time I have seen an official offer letter by the government together with a hamper and a party pamphlet.

"But we will still think positive," said Najib sarcastically.

"Even though I saw the hamper contains food, there were no Mandarin oranges... maybe these hampers were for the recent Chinese New Year celebrations.

"As always, Bersih remains silent on this blatant contempt of election laws," he said.

Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki last night lodged a police report about the claims and urged the authorities to conduct a thorough probe under the Election Offences Act 1954.

"We hope that the Election Commission will not be biased and adopt two different standards between the ruling and opposition parties.

"If in Cameron Highlands BN was denied its victory under the same act, there is no reason for the EC to not take the same action in Semenyih," Asyraf said in a statement last night.

Muhyiddin, who chairs the Harapan election committee for the Semenyih polls, on Thursday said the house renovations under the Housing Programme for the Hardcore Poor (PPRT) have already been decided earlier before the campaigning period.

Noting that reports have been made over the claims, EC chief Azhar Harun said the matter is up to the police to investigate and for the organisers to explain and defend themselves. - Mkini