Voters seen lining up for cash at village chiefs' houses

KUALA BESUT Voters have been sighted queuing up for cash outside the houses of at least two village chiefs in Kuala Besut today, supposedly for their travel allowance. 

These were spotted at the Kampung Lay Out village chief’s residence in the Tok Saboh polling district and the residence of the chief of a nearby village. 

Malaysiakini is withholding the latter village’s name pending comment. 

According to several voters met byMalaysiakini near the SK Kampung Nangka polling centre and outside of the village chief’s homes - most of whom refused to be named - the money is for voters returning to vote from outstation. 

The sum ranges from RM50 for those returning from Kota Baru to RM200 for those returning from Kuala Lumpur. 

However, when asked to confirm this, a man identifying himself as Kampung Lay Out village chief ‘Rajees’ replied, “I am the millionaire here. I can give my money to anyone I like.” 

When questioned why the disbursement coincides with the Kuala Besut by-election polling day, he claimed that the money was for duit raya. 

He added that the forms being submitted by voters to claim the allowance is for auditing purposes. 

He refused to provide his full name nor allow photography at his home, where about 50 people were queuing to claim their money amid BN and Umno flags decorating the gate.

Meanwhile, a local resident met near Rajees’ home, who wishes to be identified only as ‘Rizal’, said that the money is travel allowance and the same thing had occurred during the last general election. 

The scene was also similar at the other village chief’s residence at about noon, where Malaysiakini sighted a clerk handing out RM200 to a voter while others queued for their turn. 

However, a villager told Malaysiakini to leave soon after. 

Malaysiakini has been unable to obtain a concrete response from the cash recipients whether only supporters of certain political parties are eligible to the money. 

According to one of them, a youth from Kuala Lumpur who wished to be identified only as Hilmi, he was contacted by phone prior to polling day and was added to a name list. He was also met near Rajee’s home.