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Adequate laws for EC, authorities to pursue election crimes: TI-M
Published:  Jan 16, 2019 4:13 PM
Updated: 3:25 PM

CAMERON POLLS | The necessary provisions already exist within local laws to enable the Election Commission (EC), police and the MACC to take stern action against corrupt practices in the lead up to the Cameron Highlands by-election, Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) said.

The corruption watchdog said authorities must pay particular attention to activities which could be deemed as vote-buying and inducement, irrespective of which side of the political divide may be involved.

"EC chairperson Azhar Azizan Harun had previously lamented the commission’s lack of powers to act against candidates who violate election laws.

"TI-M is of the view that while our existing laws can be further strengthened, they have the necessary provisions for the EC and other enforcement agencies to take firm and prompt action where evidence exists.

"[...] there should be zero tolerance of 'money politics' from both sides of the political divide," TI-M president Akhbar Satar said in a statement today.

Akhbar said provisions exist within the Election Offences Act 1954 (EOA), the MACC Act 2009 and the Penal Code for the authorities to take action should evidence of any infraction exists.

He cited Section 15A of the EOA which stipulates that a candidate must record all expenses incurred during an event and that a candidate's spending limit is RM200,000; and Section 8 on the corrupt practice of providing voters with treats such as food, drinks or refreshment, groceries, money or tickets.

He also cited Section 9 of the same act which refers to the corrupt practice of placing undue influence on voters and Section 10 on direct or indirect vote-buying with gifts of money or in kind during or after an election.

Akhbar added: "Even before nomination date and the official campaign period in Cameron Highlands, MACC has revealed that allegations of corruption have surfaced. They include holding events where food and drinks were provided and giving contributions all which are offences under the EOA.

"The change of government in May 2018 does not seem to have brought the expected changes to the way political parties conduct their election campaigning."

He added: "TI-M calls on all candidates and their supporters to conduct their campaigning within the scope of our laws and for all enforcement agencies to enforce our laws and protect our democratic process to allow for a free, clean, fair and credible Cameron Highlands by-election."

Cash given

TI-M's statement comes in the wake of several allegations of electoral wrongdoing levelled against Pakatan Harapan in the lead up to the Jan 26 parliamentary polls.

PKR senator Bob Manolan Mohd (below) was recorded warning Orang Asli village chiefs (tok batin) in Cameron Highlands that they risked losing their positions and salaries if they did not support the ruling coalition.

The senator eventually apologised for his remarks, claiming he had meant to touch on how village chiefs who were Umno branch leaders could not fulfil the federal government's aspirations to help the Orang Asli.

In another incident, allegations of vote-buying were raised after photographs emerged showing money being handed to people wearing Harapan's Cameron Highlands campaign T-shirts.

Harapan later clarified that the money in question was to reimburse petrol expenses incurred by volunteers and that the coalition had declared it as part of their campaign expenses.

Even so, MACC is probing the incident and had reportedly recorded a statement from the woman seen in the images distributing money.

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