Ex-Malacca CM flirts with election law by promising 'feast of goats'

RANTAU POLLS | Former Malacca chief minister Idris Haron flirted with the election regulations last night when he promised voters at a Rantau polling district a feast of two goats.

Speaking to voters in the Angsa Emas polling district, Idris (photo, above) said he would make that feast happen if they give BN's Mohamad Hasan 300 more votes against PKR's Dr S Streram.

Based on parliamentary-level data from the 14th general election, BN had lost to PKR in the Angsa Emas polling district by 22 votes.

"If we win by 300 votes (in Angsa Emas) I will sponsor two goats for a feast in Taman Angsamas," Idris said at a ceramah.

However, he was cognisant that this might be an election offence and immediately addressed the Election Commission officers monitoring the event.

"EC, I'm not giving the goats now for them to vote for Mohamad, no.

"When they have voted for Mohamad (photo, below) and he has won (then I will give).

"I have no interests. This will be a thanksgiving. I will come back with two goats, complete with its beards," he said.

Under Section 8 of the Election Offences Act, it is an offence to treat someone, including with food, before, during, or after an election.

It carries a jail punishment of up to two years and a fine of between RM1,000 and RM5,000.

Last Thursday, Miri MP Michael Teo landed in hot water after he gave food vouchers, worth RM75,000 in total, to 300 school children in Rantau.

EC deputy chief Azmi Sharom said this is considered treating.

However, the timing of Teo's contribution lands it in a legal grey area, as "before" an election is not clearly defined.

Similarly, the Election Offences Act does not define what it means by "after" an election.

Idris was speaking to a crowd of some 150 people in Taman Angsamas, which he noted was not enough to deliver the 300-vote majority for the polling district.

"You have to call your children (and tell them) 'come back, don't vote for Steroid'," he said before correcting himself and calling the PKR candidate Streram (on left in photo).

"Streram, not steroid. He likes to make fun of people too, right?" Idris said.

The Rantau by-election is a four-cornered fight among involving Streram, Mohamad, and independent candidates R Malar and Mohd Nor Yasin.

The seat fell vacant after the Federal Court upheld a decision declaring void Mohamad’s walkover win last year.

This stemmed from the returning officer's barring of Streram from filing his nomination papers in the 2018 general election. - Mkini