S'WAK POLLS Former United People's Party (UPP) president Wong Soon Koh has categorically denied that he and two other BN direct candidate are bribing voters in Dudong, Pelawan and Bawang Assan.

The duo were Dudong candidate and Sibu Municipal Council chairperson Tiong Thai King and Pelawan candidate Janet Lau.

Wong resigned from UPP to be a BN direct candidate for Bawang Assan.

"I don't know whether this is purposely perpetrated by members of the opposition or by some of those irresponsible people, alleging that we are paying out money for the voters.

"So, we would like here to state categorically that there is no such payment from us," Wong said.

This was after incumbent DAP Dudong state assemblyperson Yap Hoi Liong claimed that a Sibu constituent was offered RM2,000 for a vote.

He slammed those who spread the allegation, which he said were meant to cause them trouble.

"Please help us to clarify that no money is given out to voters," he said.

"We are three candidates who hope the voters would support us through the services rendered by us," he said at an urgent press conference called at the Sibu Municipal Council office this morning.

He said voters are coming to their offices at Dudong and Bawang Assan to demand money following the rumours.

He said what was actually disbursed was an “education fund” to assist parents with their children’s education.

"This is the fund set up to help those in need and therefore we will continue to give to help these people, even after state election," he said.

Wong said that the fund, set up since 2015, has been giving out payment to parents on weekly basis.

A total of 320 students from 170 families received financial assistance at an event held by Pelawan UPP on Tuesday.

Primary school pupils received RM500, while secondary school students received RM1,000. College and university students received RM2,000 and RM3,000 respectively.

Malaysiakini was booted out of the press conference this morning.

"Did we invite you? Then sorry, you cannot be here," said Tiong, who sat beside the portal’s journalist at the press conference.

Met later after the press conference, Wong again denied vote-buying.

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