Hadi's justification of cash to voters is indefensible

 

Let’s start with something we are asked to do in school: Which is the odd one out of the following words?

• Charity

• Donation

• Bribe

• Gift

• Bequest

We all know the answer, but if we had asked PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and his cohorts, they would say something is wrong with the question because all mean the same.

This is not a lesson in the meanings of words but let it be said that charity is universally accepted as an act of voluntarily giving help, typically in the form of money, to those in need.

But gratification, more commonly known as “bribery” - offering, giving, receiving or soliciting something of value (for example, money, information or votes) – is an attempt to illicitly influence the decisions or actions of a person.

Hadi defended his party’s distribution of cash to voters during the 15th general election, claiming it was a charitable act and hence, not prohibited by electoral law, The Malaysian Insight quoted him as saying.

Unlike other politicians who provide all kinds of unacceptable explanations when caught red-handed, Hadi must be given credit.

He makes no bones about it and it comes as a tacit admission that money was used by the party.

Hadi said that giving out money did not violate the election laws because the cash was not distributed by the candidates or their representatives.

“According to the election laws, only candidates and their representatives cannot give (the cash handouts). But if the public wants to give, that’s up to them.

“According to election law, a candidate or a candidate’s representative cannot give out cash, it is up to the public to give alms,” he said.

This is far from the truth. For the benefit of Hadi who espouses this theory and to those who believe in his tales, this is what the law says.

Section 10 of the Election Offences Act lists various offences of bribery, but we will stick to Section 10 (a) which reads: “Every person who, before, during or after an election, who directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, gives, lends, or agrees to give or lend, or offers, promises, or promises to procure or to endeavour to procure, any money or valuable consideration to or for any elector or voter, or to or for any person on behalf of any elector or voter or to or for any other person, in order to induce any elector or voter to vote or refrain from voting, or corruptly does any such act as aforesaid on account of such elector or voter having voted or refrained from voting at any election,” - shall be guilty of an offence.

The law is not restricted to just candidates and agents. The act of dishing out cash to voters before or during an election is bribery – and it is indefensible.

Perikatan Nasional secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin

While alms are distributed to the poor, money and clothing are given to victims of floods, giving out money a few days before polling day smacks of nothing but vote buying.

A matter of intention?

As if Malaysians do not know the difference between charity and an outright bribe, former home minister and Perikatan Nasional secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin threw his hat into the ring with his own interpretations.

He argued that when talking about giving money, it is the intention that is more important.

So, for argument’s sake, please do tell us what the intentions were to give out money just before polling day.

Never mind that he is trying to deflect the accusations against Hadi, but what other intention does one have if he or she goes around the kampung with wads of money being distributed to adults?

“I am not so sure about that (Hadi’s statement). But the point is here when we talk about giving money, it is the intention that is more important,” Hamzah said.

Now that there are three election petitions before the Kuala Terengganu High Court, let us follow the proceedings and we will get to know the size of the war chest which was used in the recent hustings. - Mkini

---

R NADESWARAN is a veteran journalist who writes on bread-and-butter issues. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.