PH denies vote-buying allegations, MCMC to probe incident

A volunteer is seen receiving money, presumably from a party worker, in a photograph which made rounds on social media this morning. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan has denied any wrongdoing after photographs surfaced of people wearing the coalition’s shirts and distributing money in Cameron Highlands went viral.

At the same time, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said it was investigating whether the PH members had indulged in vote-buying in the run-up to the parliamentary by-election.

Arvind Bharet, the PH Jelai operations centre deputy chief, clarified that those in the pictures, posted on social media this morning, were volunteers receiving reimbursements for their petrol expenses.

He said the volunteers had gone to Tanah Rata on their motorcycles from their homes in the interior areas during nomination on Saturday.

“These reimbursements will be declared as part of election expenses. Everything has been done in accordance with the law,” he said in a statement in response to pictures which drew criticisms from social media users and several Barisan Nasional leaders.

All candidates are required to declare their election expenses to the Election Commission.

Earlier, Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Eddin Syazlee Shith said the MCMC was investigating the matter.

“Right now, I cannot verify the allegation and assumption by many quarters.

“Give us some time to secure accurate information and we will explain what actually happened.

“We can then confirm whether it (vote-buying) actually took place or certain quarters are merely pointing a finger,” Bernama quoted him as saying after visiting the PH operations room at Felda Sungai Koyan 3 in Kuala Lipis.

Eddin Syazlee, who is also the Negeri Sembilan PPBM deputy chief, said vote-buying went contrary to the principles of PH which regarded it as ungentlemanly and dishonourable.

“If the PH wants to use its advantages, we can easily use the government machinery like the previous regime, but we do not do that, what more where money is involved,” he said.

Polling for the by-election will be held on Jan 26. - FMT