Bersih: Was Rela's function abused for BN's election campaign?
CHINI POLLS | Electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 has raised concerns over the possible abuse of the People's Volunteer Corps' (Rela) function during a ceremony in Chini, to allegedly campaign for BN candidate Mohd Sharin Md Zain.
The event was held at Dewan Semai Bakti in Chini on June 27 with Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin in attendance.
CHINI POLLS | Electoral watchdog Bersih has raised concerns over the possible abuse of the People's Volunteer Corps' (Rela) function during a ceremony in Chini, to allegedly campaign for BN candidate Mohd Sharin Md Zain.
The event was held at Dewan Semai Bakti in Chini on June 27 with Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin in attendance.
The Rela personnel were said to have attended the function in full uniform and allegedly chanted "Hidup BN" (long live BN) three times.
"As Rela is a unit under the Home Ministry, this raises several pertinent questions - was Rela’s function abused for election campaigning for BN?
"Were Rela personnel in Chini asked or mobilised by the Home Ministry to attend the function to provide support for the BN candidate?
"And finally, shouldn't Rela as a government department maintain its impartiality and administration neutrality in its functions?" said the Bersih Steering Committee.
It said that since the other two candidates were not present, it would give an unfair advantage to Sharin (below).
The other two independent candidates are businessperson Tengku Zainul Hisham Tengku Hussin and blogger Mohd Shukri Mohd Ramli.
The by-election is being held following the death of its incumbent BN's Abu Bakar Harun due to a heart attack on May 7.
Meanwhile, Bersih highlighted the timing of certain projects announced by the government during the Chini by-election, which could lead to vote fishing.
These include the arms excellence centre worth RM60 million, which the Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob claimed was approved during the BN administration, and a project to upgrade and expand Internet coverage in the area.
"Bersih welcomes development projects that benefit the people, we however question the timing of the project that coincides with the by-election.
"The new project was clearly planned with the full knowledge that a by-election would be held in Chini.
"This again raises the question of the possibility of abusing ministry resources to fish for votes and an unfair advantage in favour of the ruling party in an election."
It called for the immediate introduction of the Public Administration Neutrality Act and to amend the MACC Act to criminalise such behaviour.
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