'Jackpot if Praba wins': Batu PKR Youth chief candidate cries slander

Summary

• A candidate for the Batu PKR Youth chief post claims a video showing her allegedly promising cash for votes is part of a smear campaign.

• Fatin Izzaty Muhammad says one of the questions about when the money would be paid was also a trap.

A candidate contesting the PKR election has claimed that she has become a victim of a smear campaign after a video surfaced in which she allegedly solicited votes for money.

Fatin Izzaty Muhammad, who is contesting for the Batu PKR Youth chief post, also claimed that she was set up.

In the video - which has been edited in parts - Fatin is heard saying that incumbent Batu PKR chief P Prabakaran - whose team she is on - will be giving supporters money.

"YB (Prabakaran) will give RM100 duit raya in the final week before... voting, he will gather all of us to break fast with him the week before Raya, then when it's time to vote, YB will give RM100.

"If we win, there will be a jackpot, don't worry," she allegedly said.

In another section of the video - which is audio only - she was asked when the money would be given, after which she repeated that the money would be given during the buka puasa event and later during voting.

The video also has her giving out some money to someone off-camera.

When contacted, Fatin said she was shocked that the youths she was taking care of would do such a thing to her.

"These were youths in my area that I always helped, giving them money for fuel, to top-up their phone (credit), I always help them.

"I'm shocked that the video was spread. I prayed, sought mercy from God. I know who recorded it and I did not expect this was the purpose. I am disappointed that this is how those I help repay me.

"It is not new for me to help people in the area, especially youths, you can ask them. I deny that it was to buy votes for the party election," she told Malaysiakini.

‘A trap’

As for the question in the video about when the money would be given, Fatin - who is the incumbent Batu PKR Women Youth chief - said it was a trap.

"The question asked, if you pay attention, is planned to trap me. I did not notice it because I’m used to them," she said - while not denying her response in the video.

However, Fatin denied that money was given at an iftar event as implied in the video.

"That didn't happen. If I wanted to give money for them to support me, I would have made sure there was no video being recorded beforehand," she said.

She added that those participating in the party polls should not fight dirty by besmirching others.

Prabakaran - who is looking to defend his post as Batu PKR chief - has also denied giving out money for votes.

The Batu division is part of the Federal Territories, which will head to the polls on April 20.

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