PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil has lodged a police report against a video purportedly showing a senior officer from Islamic Economic Development Foundation (Yapeim) warning employees not to vote for Pakatan Harapan in the run-up to the 14th general election (GE14).
"I'm lodging this report to verify whether or not the man depicted in the video is indeed Yapeim director-general Abibullah Samsudin.
"If what was mentioned in the video is true, I urge the police to probe the matter under Section 503 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation and Section 9(1) of the Election Offences Act 1954 for exerting undue influence," the Lembah Pantai MP told reporters outside the Pantai police station today.
When met, Fahmi had taken a brief break from his meeting with the police, to talk to the media.
The two-minute video, which is being circulated on social media, shows an officer telling Yapeim employees that he check their votes “one by one”.
“I know there are those among you who choose Pakatan Harapan.
"Yes, it is secret, but I will check one by one. I will go to the Election Commission (EC)... and I will check one by one where you vote and what you voted for. If you vote for Pakatan Harapan, you are not qualified to work in Yapeim. Go find work with DAP,” the man, clad in a blue batik shirt, can be heard saying, in replying to some in the crowd saying “Undi itu rahsia” (Our votes are secret).
The same man later told the same crowd that if the government were to change, those in Yapeim would also be replaced.
Serious offence
Elaborating, Fahmi said the offence committed by the individual was a serious one, and should not be taken lightly.
"If indeed the individual is the Yapeim DG, the words lobbed by such a senior official can be taken as a threat against the staff.
"My understanding is, he meant that if the staff voted for Harapan, they do not qualify to work for Yapeim," he added.
Fahmi, however, was against the idea of the Harapan sacking the offender, if indeed he was found to have made such remarks.
Instead, the law should be allowed to take its course, he said.
"No (to sacking). I'd rather the law and the courts take action to send a clear message. This as Harapan itself is against suppressing freedom of speech.
"But existing laws say that we cannot threaten anyone and impose undue influence on voters, using position.
"I hope a clear message can be sent to those in senior positions, to not influence their staff (in matters pertaining to voting)," he said.
The video comes on the heels of Yapeim acknowledging the possibility of wrongdoing and negligence by its previous management.
Mohd Daud Bakar, who chairs Yapeim's new board of trustees, said that this was found in an internal probe and an external audit conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Malaysia.
It was earlier reported that RM1 million in aid for orphans entrusted to Yapeim was allegedly misused in 2017 to settle the legal fees of a lawyer, who was also an aide to then-prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.
However, the foundation later brushed off the allegations, saying the legal fees were much lower than the reported RM1 million, and were taken from its general (am) fund, and not its charity (amal jariah) fund.
The foundation is also reported to have suffered losses amounting to RM12 million through a gold pawn scheme involving 1,000 customers of its business wing Ar-Rahnu. - Mkini
Atlast, someone from PH with brain. 👍
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