Dinner was free, say some attendees of controversial Anwar dinner

PD POLLS | Pakatan Harapan's Port Dickson candidate Anwar Ibrahim showed up at the controversial dinner last night in the constituency, despite calls by Bersih to put off the event until after the by-election.

The organiser of the event had claimed the 380-table dinner was not a "free event" - however, some attendees who chose to remain anonymous told Malaysiakini that they had received free tickets.

Among the eight people interviewed at random, five claimed it was a free dinner event, while three said attendees needed to have an entry ticket.

When asked about the price of the ticket, two said they “didn’t know”, and one initially said she didn’t know, but later claimed someone else had bought the tickets at about RM300 to RM400 a table, contrary to what the organizer had told the media.

The event's organising committee treasurer Yong Yee Seng and chairperson Wong Chee Swee told Malaysiakini on Wednesday that attendees paid RM60 each.

Regardless, there was no one checking the tickets at the entrance of the venue, and attendees came and went without having their tickets checked.

Wong, who is Lukut's Kuan Ti temple committee member, when asked during the event Wong stressed tickets were RM60 each, and explained claims of not having to pay for the dinner to sponsorship by employers.

“You know why (some did not pay for the ticket)? It is because their employer sponsored the dinner.

"Some employers have (many) staff and they paid for their employees,” he said.

DAP Lukut assemblyperson Choo Ken Hwa had initially raised concerns about the event, pointing out offering free treats to attract voter attention was an unhealthy practice and risked making Pakatan Harapan look like BN.

Regaled at dinner

Anwar arrived at the event to a lively lion dance performance arranged by the organisers to welcome him. Wong, along with controversial businessman Koo Tee Yam waited at the entrance to greet the PKR president-elect.

During the dinner, Koo sat at the main table beside the candidate.

In his speech, Anwar said that he was happy to be there and has enjoyed his time in Port Dickson, as all voters whether Chinese, Indian or Malay had welcomed him warmly.

The former deputy prime minister also spoke some Mandarin to impress the thousands of Chinese in attendance, saying in the language, “Support Anwar’s leadership so that PD would improve,” and signed a piece of calligraphy.

Pakatan Harapan leaders present included PKR vice-president candidate Tian Chua, PKR Sarawak chairperson Baru Bian, former PKR Port Dickson MP Danyal Balagopal, as well as party elected representatives Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil, Tanjung Malim MP Chang Lih Kang, Perak exco Tan Kar Hing and Teja state assemblyperson Sandrea Ng.

There were no DAP leaders present at the dinner last night. -Mkini