Cameron Highlands MP C Sivarraajh today denied that money was given to tok batin (village heads) and the Orang Asli community there in exchange for votes during the 14th general election.

Sivarraajh said this in his testimony at the Election Court in response to questions under re-examination by his counsel Mohd Hafarizam Harun.

The MIC Youth chief added that the assistance given to the village heads was based on the applications they made.

"I never told or forced them to vote for me when I rendered the assistance to them. I also did not know whether or not they were registered voters (when the meetings were held)," he said.

Sivarraajh further testified that there were no monetary incentives or bribes given to the tok batin on April 28, and May 3, 6, 7, and 8 this year.

He also denied that money was handed over to the Orang Asli community on April 28 and 30, and May 6 and 7.

Money for petrol

Replying to another question by Hafarizam, Sivarraajh did not deny that duit minyak (petrol money) was given by Jelai assemblyperson Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, now the Pahang menteri besar, to the village heads as they had to travel far.

"The payment of (RM200) was to meet their travel expenses as some took a five-hour journey to come out from their villages to Sungai Koyan or Pos Sindrot," he said.

It was previously reported that the tok batin and Orang Asli community were given money to vote for BN, which was witnessed by Wan Rosdy and Sivarraajh.  

Today, Sivarraajh said he and Was Rosdy had to take a helicopter because they campaigned at remote places. He also denied carrying a bag of cash during the helicopter trip.

"Furthermore, when campaigning, there were special branch and Election Commission officers with us. It defies logic that we gave money in their presence."

Sivarraajh was testifying as a respondent in the petition filed by DAP candidate M Manogaran (photo), who alleged that the MIC Youth chief won the seat via corrupt means.

The MP noted that the Orang Asli votes for Pakatan Harapan saw an increase.

Under cross-examination by Manogaran's lawyer V Manokaran, Sivarraajh said that prior to contesting at Cameron Highlands he contested for a state seat in Perak.

He denied suggestions that he was inexperienced and required the three-term assemblyperson Wan Rosdy to accompany him for campaigning.

"I have been working in Cameron Highlands for more than a year and I left my family, and camped there. I have been the coordinator for the Cameron Highlands seat for more than a year."

'MIC man distributing money'

Sivarraajh also replied to the testimony given by Norman Kong who saw the MIC leader's aide, a "fat Indian man," distributing money to the various tok batin on May 6.

He denied knowing the person described by Kong who claimed that the man had travelled on the same helicopter.

"The helicopter can only fit four persons, the pilot, co-pilot, Wan Rosdy and myself."

The Cameron Highlands seat was previously held by former MIC president G Palanieval.

Earlier, Manogaran's last witness, Narbi Mat, told the court that on May 6 two grass-cutting equipment were given by Manogaran to the church near an Orang Asli area.

However, Narbi said the equipment was given by a donor, not directly from DAP.

"Manogaran happened to visit our village on my invitation and as the master of ceremonies, we invited him to the function to give the grass-cutter equipment for the church and village to use," he said.

The hearing before Justice Azizah Nawawi continues tomorrow, while Wan Rosdy is scheduled to testify on Oct 3.