Some voters were bribed, says DAP

By R. Manirajan (The Sun)

PUTRAJAYA (April 17, 2007): The DAP today lodged a complaint with the Election Commission, alleging that some voters in the recent Machap by-election were bribed.

Ng Wei Aik, political secretary to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, handed over the complaint report to EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman, substantiating it with photographs and a video-recording.

The party will also lodge a report with the Anti-Corruption Agency this week.

In a six-point statement, DAP alleged the Barisan Nasional candidate for Machap, Lai Meng Chong, and election workers had breached election laws during the campaign and polling on April 12.

The specific complaints are:

- On April 12 at 12.30am, voters had gathered at an vacant house near SJK (C) Khaik Yew, Tebong, and were given between RM50 and RM200 each. A police report was lodged the next day.

- Those who attended a karaoke session organised by the MCA were given RM20 each.

- Lobbying for votes less than 50m from the polling area. Section 26 (1) of the Election Offences Act 1954 says those wanting to lobby for votes should be 50m or more from the polling station.

Photos of BN and MCA leaders, including ministers, involved in the lobbying were handed over to EC to substantiate this complaint.

- BN allegedly spent more than RM100,000 on the by-election. Section 19 (1) of the Election Offences Act 1954 states that a candidate or his agent cannot spend more than RM100,000 for a state assembly seat.

- The fight during nomination day between a BN component party and DAP members and threats made against reporters who were on duty,

- BN candidate Lai had gone to Machap Baru on April 4 and promised a Malacca government allocation of RM6,000 to RM13,000 for five units of houses.

Abdul Rashid was not available for comments.

However, he had earlier reportedly said development promises by ministers to voters during an election could not be construed as vote-buying.

He had also said vote-buying was not the EC's problem, and that it was for the ACA to investigate.

In the Machap by-election, BN's Lai beat DAP's Liou Chen Kuang by a majority of 4,081 votes.

The Coalition for Clean and Fair Election (Bersih) today told a press conference they opposed Abdul Rashid's statement that pledges do not tantamount to vote-buying.

Its representatives, PAS Central Committee member Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad and Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-president R. Sivarasa and DAP stalwarts Teresa Kok and Liew Chin Tong, described Abdul Rashid's statement as irresponsible.

"The chairman should re-examine his position as this shows that the EC is not transparent, and it makes fools of the people instead of fulfilling the public's demand for fair and clean elections," said Syed Azman.