PN candidate denies vote-buying, claims phone was hacked

 

Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Bekok candidate claimed his phone had been hacked after SMS messages that appear to originate from his phone number were circulated.

The message purports that the recipient may claim RM1,000 from candidate Tan Lek Khang at PN’s Bekok operations room.

“My phone has been hacked by irresponsible people to conduct a despicable political campaign. I am caring, but this is not how I win votes,” he said in a Facebook post today.

He urged Bekok voters to disregard the message and apologised for the inconvenience it may have caused.

Tan, an entrepreneur, is in a four-corner fight against DAP’s M Kanan, MCA’s Tan Chong, and Warisan Sandara Segaran Arumugam for the Bekok seat.

Just prior to the start of the campaigning period for the election, Kanan had accused Tan of vote-buying by handing out cash and aid boxes as well as organising events to provide free food and motor oil in the constituency.

However, Tan had asserted he has done nothing wrong because he has yet to be formally named as PN’s candidate at the time. He also said he has been organising welfare programs in the area for the past three years.

“I have been here for almost three years. why didn't they raise this issue (when I handed out aid) during the Covid-19 lockdown?

“Before the nomination of candidates, I organised activities to help the people. After nomination, then I won't do such programmes as I will only be allowed to campaign. So what wrong have I done?” he told Malaysiakini on Feb 23 in response to Kanan’s accusations. - Mkini