CAMERON POLLS | M Manogaran, Pakatan Harapan’s candidate for the Cameron Highlands by-election, has denied an allegation that Orang Asli witnesses had been paid to testify against BN.
Quoting an unnamed Orang Asli leader, Sinar Harian reportedyesterday that several Orang Asli allegedly been “threatened and paid” hundreds and thousands of ringgit to say that BN had paid them to vote for it.
In response, Manogaran stressed that all witnesses had sworn under oath before giving their testimonies.
“No, (the claim) is absolutely not true.
“What we did was we brought them to KL because they were my witnesses. I had a responsibility to bring them (to court) and house them.
“In fact, they testified in court that they were not paid anything, under oath.
“Their sworn testimony should take precedence and the judge accepted that,” he told Malaysiakini when asked about the matter during a walkabout in Kampung Kuala Medang, Jelai this morning.
After losing the seat in the 14th general election, Manogaran had filed an election petition alleging that MIC vice-president C Sivarraajh had engaged in corruption to win Cameron Highlands.
Twelve Orang Asli witnesses had testified before Justice Azizah Nawawi in Kuala Lumpur that they had received money before May 9.
The Election Court established that vote-buying had occurred and ordered a by-election.
Manogaran, who is also DAP Pahang deputy chairperson, added today that he was not bothered by the allegation as he had been subject to many of late.
Yesterday, he said that images and flyers which implied he had a role in firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim’s death were being distributed.
A police report was later lodged over the flyers.
Tomorrow (Jan 26) is polling day for the by-election. - Mkini
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