MIC Youth wants EC to disqualify Manogaran
CAMERON POLLS | MIC Youth has urged the EC to disqualify Pakatan Harapan's Cameron Highlands by-election candidate M Manogaran over allegations of vote-buying.
MIC Youth political bureau chief Arvind Krishnan said the EC cannot remain silent on the Harapan campaign which he claimed did not abide by election laws.
CAMERON POLLS | MIC Youth has urged the EC to disqualify Pakatan Harapan's Cameron Highlands by-election candidate M Manogaran (above) over allegations of vote-buying.
MIC Youth political bureau chief Arvind Krishnan said the EC cannot remain silent on the Harapan campaign which he claimed did not abide by election laws.
“We want the EC to immediately cancel Manogaran’s candidacy for attempting to ‘buy’ Orang Asli votes.
“If the EC had decided on a Cameron Highlands by-election over the same allegations against BN, what about now when the Harapan candidate is proven to have bribed voters?” he questioned.
He was speaking to reporters after lodging a police report against Manogaran at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
Arvind added Manogaran’s explanation of what transpired was unacceptable.
“The EC’s guidelines clearly state in Paragraph 8 that any payment of money to voters for food, transportation and so forth is wrong,” he said.
He said a MACC statement in 2017 had also affirmed that the payment of travel allowances to voters was a form of corruption.
“In any case, Harapan leaders’ statements on this issue are contradictory. Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said it was government money, while Lim Kit Siang said it was reimbursement for campaign volunteers’ travel expenses.
“Manogaran initially said he didn’t make any payments, but then his son admitted to giving the money. So who is telling the truth?” he asked.
“Who are these volunteers? Can Manogaran prove that they are not Cameron Highlands voters? Can Manogaran pay for their travel expenses without hoping that they would also vote for Harapan?” he questioned further.
Previously, several photos had been circulated purportedly showing women wearing Harapan T-shirts distributing money to locals ahead of polling day on Jan 26.
Opposition supporters have criticised Harapan over the matter despite the latter's explanation that the money was reimbursement of travel expenses for campaign volunteers.
Arvind confirmed that MIC’s Youth wing had lodged over 100 police reports against Manogaran over the matter.
“I myself have lodged two police reports so far, one in Cameron Highlands yesterday and in Dang Wangi today. Many more MIC Youth members are lodging police reports nationwide.
“We will also bring this matter to the MACC soon,” he added.
