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Friday, July 26, 2013

Village chief: It's not bribery, just an incentive


Kampung Beris Lampu village chief Yaakob Kadir has denied bribing Kuala Besut voters on the constituency’s by-election polling day, saying it is merely an incentive for outstation voters to return and cast their ballots. 

NONE“If it were bribery, it would have been done quietly. We gave it (the incentive) to everyone regardless whether they vote for BN or PAS. Returning voters would surely support PAS (anyway),” he toldMalaysiakini when met at his home this morning. 

On Wednesday as Kuala Besut headed for the polls, voters were seen queuing up for cash at Yaakob’s and Kampung Lay Out village chief Rashid Yusof’s (previously reported as ‘Rajees’) home. 

The recipients, who had already voted before heading to collect the money, told Malaysiakini that it was their travel allowance for returning to vote.
NONEYaakob explained that the incentive is already in place even during the last general election, with those returning from Kuala Terengganu being paid RM100; RM150 for Kuantan; and RM200 for Johor and Kuala Lumpur. 

“There are those who complained it that it was not enough... If (you compare the incentive against the cost of returning), it does not match,” said Yaakob, who is also the local Umno branch chief. 

He added that fewer than 100 have returned this time in view of the approaching Hari Raya holidays. 

Malaysiakini has also visited Rashid’s home this morning, who had previously claimed that the money was duit raya, but found that he was not at home.
EC urged to take action

Meanwhile, PAS Kuala Besut candidate’s campaign manager Hanafiah Mat urged the Election Commission (EC) to take action against the supposed ‘travel allowance’. 

“This is blatant bribery without any sense of shame or embarrassment. 

NONE“PAS does not do this. Anything given to earn votes is bribery,” he said when contacted today. 

The Chukai assemblyperson added that PAS would hold a meeting tomorrow to decide on its next course of action. 

Malaysiakini has also contacted BN Kuala Besut by-election deputy director Idris Jusoh since yesterday and Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Said since this morning for comment on the issue. 

As of the time of writing, neither of the BN leaders have responded to Malaysiakini’s queries.

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