SLIM POLLS | A representative of Parti Pejuang Tanah Air's (Pejuang) Amir Khusyairi Mohamad Tanusi, who is contesting as an independent candidate in the Slim by-election, has lodged a police report alleging that government machinery was used to offer jobs during the campaign period.
Amirul Fairuzzeen Jamaluddin, 38, who is Pejuang's campaign director, alleged that the event organised by the Human Resources Ministry was tantamount to vote-buying.
Amirul said he lodged the police report this evening at the Muallim district police headquarters and cited Section 10(b) of the Election Offences Act 1954.
Section 10(b) concerns the offence of making offers or promises to induce voters to cast their vote in a certain way.
"I made the police report on behalf of the candidate. Today, at around 5pm, I saw a Facebook posting by the Human Resources Ministry.
"In the programme, the minister said eight people were given jobs while four disabled persons were also offered a business assistance scheme which coincides with the by-election," he told reporters.
The event in question is a carnival on jobs and skills which was earlier officiated by Human Resources Minister M Saravanan at Dewan Tan Sri Ghazali Jawi in Slim River, Perak.
"We regret that while we celebrate the democratic process, we are met with an uneven playing field. We ask that the Election Commission take action over the programme," said Amirul, who is a lawyer.
He described the event coinciding the with by-election as an "unhealthy" development.
"The campaign is for us to put forward what we have to offer voters, not to use government institutions in order to secure victory for certain candidates," he said.
The Slim state seat fell vacant after its four-term assemblyperson Mohd Kusairi Abdul Talib, who was from BN, passed away on July 15.
Amir Khusyairi is contesting as an independent candidate as Pejuang is not yet formally registered. It is being led by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He is an underdog against BN's Mohd Zaidi Aziz. A third candidate, former teacher S Santharasekaran, is also contesting as an independent candidate. - Mkini
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