Hamzah: Intention most crucial element in cash handouts to voters

The most important element in cash handouts is the intention, said Perikatan Nasional secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin.

The former home minister was responding to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang defending the distribution of cash to voters during the last 15th general election as “charity”.

“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,” he told reporters at the sidelines of Gerakan’s Chinese New Year open house in Kuala Lumpur today.

Citing an example, he said people sometimes asked election candidates for money to repair their houses.

“Because of that, we have to be careful about the intention and the people who ask for it (money),” Hamzah (above) added.

Earlier, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi censured the PAS president over his statement and called him a hypocrite.

"If he does it, then it’s charity, but if others do it, it’s corruption," he said.

Zahid also branded Hadi as a "political ulama" and urged the latter not to change Islamic rules as he pleased.

Previously, Hadi said the move 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,” he added.

Umno information chief Isham Jalil

Yesterday, Umno information chief Isham Jalil also criticised the PAS president’s “logic” over the matter.

Meanwhile, Hamzah said PN and its legal team are prepared to face the petition filed by Terengganu Umno to annul the results for three parliamentary seats in the state.

The seats are Kuala Terengganu, Kemaman and Marang, whose incumbent is the PAS president.

“Of course,” Hamzah replied when asked if PN is prepared.

“When they challenge us with the petition, we will ensure that we have the evidence,” he added.

The petition was filed with the Kuala Terengganu High Court on Jan 3 in accordance with the Election Offences Act 1954.

Last week, Terengganu Umno chief Ahmad Said said among the points raised were allegations that PAS bribed voters by distributing financial aid from the state government through the i-Pension, i-Belia and i-Student initiatives between Nov 15 to 17, 2022, just days ahead of the polls. - Mkini