DAP's Manogaran says Orang Asli voters bribed during GE14

The DAP candidate for the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat M Manogaran (above, left) told the Election Court today that bribery and corrupt practices by BN were rampant among the Orang Asli community there.

This had, therefore, prevented him from obtaining votes which in turn affected the outcome of the results for that constituency in the May 9 general election which he lost.

He alleged that BN's C Sivaarajh from the MIC - who won the parliamentary seat - along with incumbent Jelai assemblyperson Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail had either directly or through their campaign workers bribed the voters.

He said they had either directly or indirectly given thousands of ringgit for the “Tok Batin” (village heads) and Orang Asli during the campaign period between April 28 to May 8.

The Pahang DAP deputy chairperson claimed in his petition list that the Orang Asli were given between RM30 to RM1,000 each while the Tok Batin or headmen received RM500 each.

"Besides this, the Orang Asli voters also received RM50 and a smartphone SIM card," Manogaran said.

Under cross-examination by Sivaraajh's lawyer Mohd Hafarizam Harun, Manogran refuted that the giveaways were done without Sivaraajh's' knowledge.

Manogaran, however, agreed that the SIM cards and RM50 were given by the Rural Development Ministry to the Orang Asli and this was with Sivaraajh's knowledge.

Besides the DAP man who is the first witness, some 36 Orang Asli are scheduled to testify for Manogaran during his election petition hearing which has been fixed for two weeks from today.

[More to follow] - Mkini