A Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) top official has said the giving of travel allowance to voters to return to vote constitutes bribery.

“For example, if a voter was offered an allowance to go back and vote, or pay RM50 so that he or she votes for a particular candidate,” MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Azam Baki was today reported telling Sin Chew Daily in an interview.

According to the report in The Star, Azam explained offering voters any form of inducement, be it cash or gifts, is considered bribery according to the laws.

The report added that if politicians offered genuine aid such as rice or a donation to poor folk, this would not constitute a bribe, according to the deputy chief commissioner.

However, Azam said election pledges were not considered bribery as it is part of campaigning to woo voters.

“During the campaign period, political parties will usually make all kinds of promises, such as to build more houses,” The Star quoted him as saying.

Azam said when the coming general election date is fixed, MACC will set up a team comprising MACC officials and the police to monitor graft activity in the elections.

“If the team receives any report from the public, such cases will be investigated under the Election Commission Act, Anti-Corruption Act and Penal Code,” he said.

According to the report, MACC will also not be seeking law amendments to make declaration of assets mandatory.

EC: Travel allowances not an offence

Previous elections have seen both BN and the federal opposition organising travel arrangements or paying travel allowances to voters for them to return to their constituencies to vote.

During the Sarawak election last year, electoral reform group Bersih highlighted that BN had provided a RM20 travel allowance at a longhouse in Bawang Assan and a RM1,400 travel allowance for four-wheel-drive vehicle drivers ferrying voters to Telang Usan. The Telang Usan voters were also purportedly paid a RM200 travel allowance.

Malaysiakini had also sighted instances of money being paid to voters as travel allowances during the Sungai Besar by-election last year and the 2013 Kuala Besut by-election, among others.

Despite repeated complaints from Bersih, the Election Commission (EC) had insisted that the practice is legal as long as the transport allowance is provided without conditions.

A higher outstation voter turnout has often been cited as advantageous to the opposition.

During the Teluk Intan by-election for example, Gerakan voiced concern over outstation voters impacting their winning chances.

"The outstation voters must be more compassionate and consider the needs of local residents. They rarely return and do not understand issues faced by Teluk Intan residents," he was reported as saying by Bernama at the time.

Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong won the contest with a sliver-thin 238 votes.

In the 2015 Rompin by-election, then Election Commission chairperson Abdul Aziz Yusof said giving out travel allowance for voters did not constitute an offence.