Cameron Highlands election petition to go on trial

The Cameron Highlands election petition will go on trial, after the Election Court in Kuala Lumpur dismissed the preliminary objection made by its incumbent MP C Sivarraajh.

Justice Azizah Nawawi said in the chambers that there are triable issues to be heard on the alleged bribery to voters.

However, she struck out several parts of DAP candidate M Manogaran's election petition.

Manogaran is also Pahang DAP chairperson.

Despite the trial dates having earlier been fixed for Sept 3, Justice Azizah allowed an adjournment request by Sivarraajh. 

The hearing will begin on Sept 5, with Manogaran taking the stand.

Lawyers M Rajenthirakumar and K Shanmuga appeared for Manogaran while Mohd Hafarizam Harun appeared for Sivarraajh.

Manogaran filed the election petition on June 5 to nullify the outcome of the Cameron Highlands election result.

He claimed that the eventual victor, Sivarraajh, who is also MIC Youth chief, had bribed and threatened the voters, especially the Orang Asli community that makes up for 20 percent of the voters there.

Manogaran said Sivarraajh and Jelai assemblyperson Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail had paid the constituents "duit rokok" (financial inducement), resulting in him losing the parliamentary seat by 597 votes in the May 9 general election.

In his 161-page petition filed in Kuala Lumpur, Manogaran said he had lost many Orang Asli votes despite having campaigned there since 2016. - Mkini