Those with proof of vote-buying during the May 7 Sarawak election should lodge a report with the authorities.

Otherwise, Centre for A Better Tomorrow (Cenbet) secretary-general Khairil Azmie Hasbie said they would be condoning corruption.

“We call on those with evidence of such wrongdoings to lodge reports so that the authorities could go after the perpetrators.

“Failure to do so can be construed as condoning political bribery and encourages the scourge to further take root in our society,” he said in a statement.

The police and Election Commission should investigate the claims, as offering cash for votes contravenes Section 10 of the Election Offences Act 1954, he said.

“Vote-buying undermines parliamentary democracy which this country is founded upon. The

practice should be nipped in the bud; it has no place in a healthy democracy,” he said.

This comes after various parties, including from the BN, claimed that money was disbursed to secure votes.

For example, BN candidate for Simanggang Francis Harden Hollis reportedly said voters in the constituency were offered RM100 before polling and another RM200 if he lost.

Francis won against DAP’s Leon Jimat Donald, PKR’s Norina Umoi Utot and independent candidate Ngu Siew Peng.

The PKR and DAP candidates lost their deposits while Ngu took 33 percent of the votes.