DAP's M Manogaran has filed an election petition to nullify the outcome of the election result for Cameron Highlands – alleging that eventual victor C Sivaraajh of MIC had bribed and threatened voters.

According to Manogaran, Sivaraajh and Jelai assemblyperson Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail had paid consituents "duit rokok" (financial inducement), especially those from the Orang Asli community.

Manogaran lost Cameron Highlands by just 597 votes in the recent polls.

In his 161-page petition filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today, he said he lost many Orang Asli votes, despite campaigning heavily among the community since 2016.

Orang Asli voters make up about 20 percent of the electorate.

He alleges that Orang Asli from nine posts were given a bribe of between RM30 and RM1,000, as well as free SIM cards, during the campaign period.

The inducements are said to have been distributed via the respective tok batin (village headman) in return for supporting BN.

The petition names the tok batin involved, and lists the quantum of these inducements.

Manogaran also alleges that the villagers and farmers of Kampung Raja were threatened by former menteri besar Adnan Yaakob when he went to campaign in the area just five days before the polls.

Details of those who said they were threatened and asked to vote for BN are listed in the petition.

Both the bribes and threats, he said, run afoul of the Elections Offences Act 1954.

Manogaran is seeking a declaration that the May 9 general election results for Cameron Highlands be declared null and void.

He is also seeking other relief deemed necessary by the court.

The DAP candidate told Malaysiakini that he will be represented by lawyers Gopal Sri Ram and V Manokaran.

He expressed his hope that with a new government in Putrajaya, he would be given a fair hearing, and that the petition would not be struck out on technicalities.

"I also hope that Wan Rosdy or his agents will not take action on those named in the petition who claimed to have been threatened or others.

“Let there be a fair trial," he said.