Giving out rice, donations is indeed vote-buying, Maria Chin tells MACC

Contrary to remarks from a top official from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah said offering rice and donations is a form of vote-buying.

“I certainly do not agree with that. They are all vote-buying,” she told Malaysiakini when asked to comment on MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Azam Baki’s claims.

Azam had reportedly said yesterday that offering “genuine aid” such as rice or donations to the poor would not constitute a bribe. He had also said election pledges are not bribes either, as it is part of campaigning to woo voters.

“You stop doing pledges (during election period). You are not the government (after dissolution), how can you make pledges? And why are you doing it during the campaign period?” Maria asked.

She also pointed out that such welfare programmes are usually seen being done during the election period.

“But during the election, you stop being the government. (Government business should) all be taken care of by a caretaker government, (a system) that we do not have.

“We need a caretaker government to ensure administrative work (is being handled during elections). That should be the way,” she said.

The Election Commission (EC) also shares the similar belief as Azam, she said, but it actually goes against international standards.

The ruling party can afford to dish out such goodies and make such pledges during elections because they are the incumbent government, she said.

“It is just that you, as the incumbent government, have got access to all these resources, (but) it is actually abusing the power (of government),” she said.

She insisted there must be a level-playing field during elections.

Despite Azam’s views on giving out donations, rice and making pledges, he said that travel allowance is indeed a form of bribery.

However, this contradicts the EC’s previous statement that the practice of giving transport allowance during elections is not considered a bribe, if no conditions are attached. - Mkini