'No formal complaint of money politics against Sg Siput MP'

PKR POLLS | PKR has not received any formal complaint against Sungai Siput MP S Kesavan over his alleged involvement in money politics, says the party's objection, appeal and disciplinary committee chairperson Syed Husin Ali.

Syed Husin told reporters in Petaling Jaya today that this was despite the case being widely reported by the media since earlier this week.

"No complaint (against Kesavan).

"All these (reported) complaints about money politics, I did not receive (any)," he said.

On Friday, Kesavan denied offering an RM500 bribe to a PKR member in exchange for her support in the party polls. 

Deputy presidential candidate Rafizi Ramli termed the allegations against Kesavan (photo) a "pure set-up" designed to target leaders aligned to him in the party polls.

Syed Husin was present at the Gerakbudaya bookstore in Petaling Jaya today to commemorate the ten years since the passing of Rustam Sani, PKR's first information chief.

At the time, Rustam – the son of independence fighter Ahmad Boestamam – was the deputy president of Parti Rakyat Malaysia that merged with Keadilan to form PKR.

'No complaints on money politics'

Syed Husin also pointed out that despite the deluge of complaints lodged since the start of the PKR polls, the objection committee has yet to receive any related to money politics. 

"There are many complaints. Just during our last meeting on Friday there were 20 cases.

"There are a lot of cases, but for the ones that require concrete evidence, none," said the veteran politician, who lamented that media reports of such complaints often made the situation out to be much worse than it really is.

Syed Husin added the party will not be able to act on any complaints without any formal report lodged with his committee.

Earlier during the function, friends and family of Rustam shared their views on the social science professor's many published works, as well as personal anecdotes.

Among others, they discussed Rustam's ideas on the concept of nation building, and how he was supportive of the Vision 2020 idea when it was first mooted by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad during his first stint in office.

Rustam's son, Azrani, said his late father was a principled man.

At the same time, the former News Straits Times journalist said Rustam would never impose his views on his two children.

During the height of the Reformasi movement in 1998, Azrani said Rustam had even initiated a boycott of the Umno-linked newspaper.

"You can imagine how interesting my life was at the time. That showed how fair he was," Azrani said.

Among Rustam's other friends and former colleagues present at today's event included PSM president Dr Nasir Hashim and PKR veteran Syed Shahir Syed Mahmud.

 -Mkini