CAMERON POLLS DAY 3 | It is day three of the campaign, but not all four Cameron Highlands by-election candidates seem to be picking up the pace.
Pakatan Harapan's M Manogaran is scheduled to split his time between the Tanah Rata and Jelai state constituencies, spending time at several PAS strongholds.
Independents Wong Seng Yee and Sallehudin Ab Talib also have a full day ahead of them.
However, BN has announced a grand total of zero events to the media.
Malaysiakini brings you live reports of the campaigning on the ground.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Independent candidate shows media around his flower farm
- Manogaran says will declare volunteers' food, petrol money to EC
- Najib joining BN campaign trail, says report
Dr M says Harapan will never resort to cash handouts
1.00pm: Kuala Lumpur - Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad dismisses the allegation of cash handouts, saying Pakatan Harapan will not resort to such tactics.
"Harapan never hands out cash to anyone," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.
However, the Harapan chairperson says it is not wrong if the money is distributed under government programmes, which will be received by everyone.
TI-M: Take stern action against violators of election laws
12.45pm: Petaling Jaya - Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M) is urging the Election Commission, MACC and police to take stern action against political parties and members who use inducements as a means to buy votes.
"Even before nomination date and the official campaign period started in Cameron Highlands, MACC has revealed that allegations of corruption have surfaced.
"They include holding events where food and drinks are provided and giving contributions which are offences under the Election Offences Act 1954.
"The change of government in May 2018 does not seem to have brought the expected changes to the way political parties conduct their election campaigning," says its president Akhbar Satar in a statement.
'Farmer's outfit not just for show'
12pm: Habu Heights - Independent candidate Wong Seng Yee explains that the reason he chose to don a farmer’s outfit on nomination day was to show the public that it is the daily wear of Cameron Highlands’ farmers.
He also adds that he got the Election Commission’s approval before wearing the outfit.
“I got their approval, and I want to show my farmer’s identity too, and this is not rude as some netizens claimed,” he said.
Meanwhile, Wong also clarifies that he has never been a member of any political party, and denies allegations that he is contesting as a “vote spoiler” in exchange for land.
“I deny that I have applied for any land under the state government of Pahang. I’m open up to any investigation if there’s a need. I’m willing to assist in that,” he says.
Indie takes media on a tour of his chrysanthemum farm
10.30am: Ringlet - Independent candidate Wong Seng Yee brings members of the media to visit his chrysanthemum farm this morning.
The farmer tells of his daily routine and how he grows and takes care of the flowers.
This chrysanthemum farm is about 200 acres but currently only 20 acres are planted with flowers with the remaining area still in developing process.
Wong says his farm comprises 40 species of chrysanthemum and most of the flowers are exported to Japan and Australia.
No need lodge report over volunteers' reimbursements - Manogaran
9.15am: Sungai Koyan 2, Jelai - Pakatan Harapan candidate M Manogaran dismisses the "cash handouts" incident, saying it is not a big deal.
"The issue we are facing now is not a big problem. Handing out money to a volunteer for food and transport is not an offence under the law.
"The money was a part of our campaign spending and it will be included in our account declaration to the Election Commission," he tells the media on a walkabout here.
The DAP politician adds that opposition leaders need not raise this issue or "waste time" reporting it to the police as Harapan is committed to running a clean campaign.
Yesterday, representatives from MIC Youth and Pahang Umno Youth lodged police and MACC reports after photographs depicting a woman in a red Cameron Highlands Harapan T-shirt handing out money went viral on social media.
Ex-PM Najib expected to join campaign on Jan 18
7am: Sungai Koyan - Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak will join the campaign trail, news portal The Malaysian Insight reports.
The Pekan MP, whose father and former prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein established Felda, is expected to canvas for Malay votes from Jan 18 to 20 in both Jelai and Tanah Rata state constituencies.
There are three Felda villages in Jelai, namely Sungai Koyan 1, 2 and 3.
Yesterday, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang said he got wind of news Najib will campaign for BN together with Jelai assemblyperson and Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail. -Mkini
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