No political element in food and cash handout event - Malacca police

The police found no element of "vote-buying" in a food and cash handout event for the elderly people that is being aired in a viral video.

In a statement today, Malacca Criminal Investigation Department chief Azlan Abu said the event has nothing to do with the forthcoming Malacca state election.

"The image was uploaded yesterday by several Facebook accounts, showing food packages together with RM50 cash (being handed out to the elderly people).

"Image caption alleged that it happened in Malacca while some commented that there was a political element in the programme, which was meant to gain votes," Azlan said.

"The investigation by Malacca police showed that the event was not meant to affect the ballots. No party symbol nor element was found in the video," he said.

However, Azlan did not say whether the incident took place in Malacca.

"Until now, we did not receive any police report (alleging) the incident took place in the Central Malacca district," he added.

The incident was probed under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or a jail term not exceeding one year or both.

The two-minute-17-seconds video clip that made the rounds on social media shows dozens of elderly people queuing up for their share of food packages and an RM50 cash handout.

Chinese newspaper Oriental Daily quoted a local activist as saying that the event did not take place in Malacca.

Bunga Raya Businesspersons and Residential Association head Leong Cheng Fah believes that the event took place in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur.

"I have checked with many activists and were told that this is an annual charity event in Pudu, in which food and cash are handed out on the road," Leong was quoted as saying. - Mkini