Aminah 'offered' top council post to pull out

Penanti's independent candidate Aminah Abdullah today revealed that two state level PKR members had offered her a top post and RM80,000 if she pulled out from contesting the by-election.

Without naming the duo, Aminah told reporters that the offers were that she would be made president of the Penang Island Municipal Council if she pulls out. Or, if she wins, she would be given the deputy chief minister's post.

In both scenarios, she will be allowed to return to PKR, which she quit last year.

"The offer to head the council was on the condition that I did not contest in the by-election," she said, adding that the meeting took place in May 13.

"They wanted me to withdraw my candidacy and give the PKR candidate a walkover," she said, adding that their first meeting took place in her house in Jelutong, Georgetown, in the afternoon.

The DCM post was offered in the event of her refusal to withdraw, but wins the by-election.

She also alleged the PKR representatives met her twice more, once in her house and then at her office in Seberang Jaya, with the same offers.

They also allegedly had telephone conversations with her several times to persuade her to take up the offers.

Duo 'to be named' in due course

She said she had not responded to their offers in all her conversations with them.

"Obviously I did not agree to their offers. That's why I am here contesting this by-election," said Aminah, the former PKR Penang women chief, at a press conference in Kubang Ulu, Penanti today.

She refused to name the duo, but claimed that one is a special officer to a party executive councillor in the Pakatan Rakyat state government and another a member of the party's supreme council.

She also alleged that the duo, PKR members of Chinese Malaysian origin, had claimed to have the blessings of PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim in making the offers.

"They said they don't believe that PKR candidate Mansor Othman would win the by-election because he is unpopular. So they offered me the DCM 1 post if I were to win," she said.

She also released a copy of audio recording of the alleged offers in a compact disc to the media today. The recording lasted about three hours.

She further claimed to have photographic evidence of the meeting which she would release in due time, along with the names of the two persons.

Aminah, who had left the party after an acrimonious fallout with the state party leadership, added that the PKR representatives offered the cash to reimburse her election deposit and compensate her for other expenses if she pulled out.

She said the reimbursement amount was about RM80,000.

Claiming that she and her family members are in danger, she lodged a report at the Seberang Perai Tengah district police headquarters this afternoon to seek protection.

"I feel my life and my familly's lives are under threat now," she said.

Tomorrow, she intends to lodge a report with the Election Commission, to which she will reveal the names of the two persons, for further action.

Pressed as to why she has not lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission - rather than the EC which lacks enforcement power - Aminah said she would leave it to EC to take follow-up action with the anti-graft agency.

PKR to issue legal notice

Asked why she had not reported the graft offers to EC returning officer Roslan Yahaya on nomination day, she said it was because she wants an electoral battle with PKR.

She said she was forced to reveal it all today following a challenge thrown by PKR state leader Mohd Zahrain Mohd Hashim to produce the evidence to prove her claims.

"I would not have revealed the offers if not for Zahrain's challenge to me," she said.

PKR's strategic director Tian Chua yesterday denied claims that the party had made any offers to Aminah. He also challenged her to prove the claims.

Meanwhile, the party's elections director Saifuddin Nasution said the party will be sending a legal notice to Aminah, asking her to retract her claims and apologise to the party.

He said the legal team, headed by PKR vice-president Sivarasa Rasiah, will serve her the notice of demand soon, seeking withdrawal of her allegations, a public apology and damages for slander.

He also dismissed the possibility that Aminah's allegations could jeopardise Mansor's chances of winning.

"PKR is unperturbed by her allegations. Our chances of winning in Penanti are as good as ever," said Saifuddin, the Machang parliamentarian.

He refused to comment when asked if the party will take action against the two men, if Aminah's allegation are proven.

"Let her lodge the report, produce the evidence and allow the EC to probe the case. Until then, we have no comment," he told reporters at Yayasan Aman, Penanti.

Aminah's startling allegation is set to inject much-needed excitement into a likely boring campaign run-in to polling day on Sunday.

The four-cornered fight is among Mansor, Aminah, and two other independent candidates Nai Khan Ari Nai Keow and Kamarul Ramizu Idris.

Kamarul had contested the Bukit Gantang parliamentary by-election in March, but lost.

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