In a statement today, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has condemned the Elections Committee for not acting against allegations of vote buying by the Barisan Nasional in Teluk Intan.
“Even though the Election Commission(EC) has no enforcement powers to punish those who violate the Election Offences Act, the EC is not free, fair and independent if the EC fails to condemn but instead condone BN leaders who practice money politics,” he said.
The numerous claims that show the BN attempting to win over votes from the public for the Teluk Intan by-elections include, P Panjalay’s testimony about Umno Wanita chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil donating RM 500 cash and pampers for her disabled daughters in return for canvassing support for BN, and Federal Territory Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor promising the local Indian community a crematorium and a wedding hall ‘only if BN wins’ the Teluk Intan by-election.
Other allegations include Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran accusing BN of giving out hampers worth about RM150 each to families at the Nova Scotia Estate in Teluk Intan last Thursday. Added to that, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin launched the RM5 billion West Coast Expressway urging the people to give BN credit, while Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had told volunteer corps RELA members they would get new uniforms if BN wins.
“Of the 8,000 voters registered here [from RELA], 2,019 of you did not go out and vote though registered to do so”
“I have checked it one by one and I know who did not go out to vote,” Zahim Hamidi warned RELA during a BN rally in Teluk Intan on 24 May 2014.
In response Lim Guan Eng questioned the Election Commission’s inaction with respect to the electoral violations, saying that this has resulted in BN leaders behaving like feudal overlords spreading largesse only during by-elections.
“Is democracy in Malaysia reduced to voters hoping that there will be by-elections to find a solution to their long-standing problems?”
“EC’s role as an apologist for BN only reinforces PR’s demands that the EC members resign because of their utter failure to uphold the law without fear or favour, regardless of rank or position to conduct free, fair and independent elections,” Lim concluded. -The Rocket
