PETALING JAYA: The Election Commission faces a challenge in curbing corruption as it cannot impose penalties on anyone guilty of corrupt practices during elections, says an electoral watchdog group.
Commenting on the government’s development allocation announced for Hulu Selangor ahead of the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election on May 11, Tindak Malaysia said prosecuting a person for bribery must go through the courts because bribery is an offence under the Criminal Procedure Code.
Its director, Danesh Prakash Chacko, said the government should institute caretaker government principles and cease making major policy decisions during a by-election.
“This may include a special code of conduct to be drafted by the EC, which must apply to all members of the caretaker government during a by-election,” Chacko said in a statement.
On Thursday, housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming unveiled an allocation of RM5.21 million for Hulu Selangor residents, which will also be used for projects in Kuala Kubu Baharu.
Nga denied this allocation was made in view of the by-election there, saying his ministry “chose this area because it’s an auspicious place” and “the feng shui here is good”.
This drew criticism from Selangor Perikatan Nasional chief Azmin Ali, who was quoted by Malaysiakini as accusing DAP of practising “dirty money politics” to secure votes ahead of the by-election.
Chacko dismissed Selangor DAP secretary Ng Sze Han’s statement downplaying the allocation. He pointed out that Section 10 (a) of the Election Offences Act 1954 (Act 5) states that election bribery includes any action taken before an election.
“The announcement of the allocation by the ministry should not be lightly dismissed as such,” he said.
Ng said yesterday the allocation was a normal practice and had nothing to do with the by-election as the announcement was not made during the campaign period. - FMT
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