I received RM550 from Pahang MB, tok batin testifies

A tok batin (village head), from the Jelai state constituency within the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat, testified at the Election Court today that he received RM500 in cash and a SIM card along with RM50 in cash from BN before the May 9 general election.

Norman a/l Kong from Kampung Pos Sinderut in Kuala Lipis said Jelai assemblyperson Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, who is now the Pahang menteri besar, gave the money through another person and this was witnessed by Cameron Highlands MP C Sivarraajh and Wan Rosdy himself.

He said this when he gave evidence for M Manogaran, the DAP candidate for the Cameron Highlands seat who filed the election petition.

When he was initially questioned by Manogaran's lawyer K Shanmuga, Norman said Wan Rosdy and Sivarraajh came to meet several village heads on two occasions, namely on April 30 and May 6.

Replying to further questions from the counsel, Norman, who is the third witness for Manogaran, said during the first meeting Wan Rosdy gave him RM200, and RM300 on May 6.

"In the first meeting, the BN candidate said he wanted to give RM200 duit rokok to each tok batin. On the second occasion, the candidate (Wan Rosdy) said, 'You (village heads) do not think of anything else, but vote BN'," he said.

When cross-examined by Sivarraajh's lawyer Mohd Hafarizam Harun, Norman, 37, agreed that Wan Rosdy gave the money to someone and he saw that unidentified person giving the money to the village heads, including himself.

He also agreed that the SIM card was given by the Rural Development Ministry but said it does not work.

The witness said there are 1,200 voters at the Pos Sinderut polling centre and of that number, 559 voters are from his village.

Witness: I asked about low-cost houses

Norman also testified that he had voted three times prior to this year's election and in the past, no money was given.

He said he wanted to see development in his area as the roads are like "roti canai" and hoped that the roads are tarred.

Norman added that he had written to Wan Rosdy asking for low-cost houses to be built for himself and 20 other families.

"Wan Rosdy agreed and approved its construction. However, when the contractors came, they constructed the low-cost homes only for Umno and BN supporters.

"Until today, I have bamboo floors in my house," he said.

When asked by Hafarizam, Norman disagreed with the lawyer's suggestion that this was the reason for testifying against Sivarraajh and Wan Rosdy.

He also denied that he was a member of any political party or even supporting Manogaran.

However, Norman agreed to Hafarizam's suggestion that he came to testify with the help of Manogaran's son, Arvind, who had also agreed to pay for their meal expenses here.

"However, I walked out from my village before meeting him (Arvind)," he said.

Norman further maintained that he feels the cash given to him and his villagers before the election was meant to ensure they voted for BN.

That, he said, was the idea.

Yesterday, it was reported that another tok batin, Harun a/l Siden said that when he was receiving the money, Wan Rosdy reminded them to “makan BN, mandi BN, tidur BN" (eat while thinking of BN, bathe while thinking of BN and sleep while thinking of BN).

Harun also testified that Wan Rosdy and Sivarraajh were on hand to witness the handover of the money to the tok batin.

Manogaran is seeking to declare Sivarraajh’s victory as null and void due to alleged corrupt practices.

Sivarraajh won the Cameron Highlands seat by a 587 majority.

The hearing continues tomorrow before Justice Azizah Nawawi. - Mkini