Terengganu Umno files election petitions alleging vote-buying in 3 seats
KUALA LUMPUR: Terengganu Umno has filed election petitions alleging vote buying in three constituencies – Marang, Kuala Terengganu and Kemaman. Terengganu Umno chief Ahmad Said said the petitions were filed in the Kuala Terengganu High Court on Jan 3. Ahmad alleged that the vote-buying took place on Nov 15,16 and…
KUALA LUMPUR: Terengganu Umno has filed election petitions alleging vote buying in three constituencies – Marang, Kuala Terengganu and Kemaman.
Terengganu Umno chief Ahmad Said said the petitions were filed in the Kuala Terengganu High Court on Jan 3.
Ahmad alleged that the vote-buying took place on Nov 15,16 and 17 – two to four days before the general election – with most households receiving RM500 to RM1,000.
“On Nov 15,16 and 17, 2022, Perikatan Nasional (PN) had given out funds in the form of i-siswa, i-belia dan i-pencen to voters in Terengganu, including to those who had returned home to vote,” he said at a press conference at World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur today.
“While they were special funds under the Terengganu government, and also funding from PN, the fact that they were given out during the election makes it morally wrong.”
He alleged that at Kampung Tok Hakim, a viral TikTok video showed someone admitting, “I took money from you, so I will vote for PAS”.
Ahmad said Terengganu Umno had met with witnesses from eight parliamentary constituencies, but only those from Marang, Kuala Terengganu and Kemaman were willing to cooperate.
“Many admitted that they received (bribes), but when we mention (appearing) in court, they refuse to cooperate,” he said.
Umno lawyer Amin Othman said the petitions were filed to challenge the victory of the three PAS candidates in Marang, Kuala Terengganu and Kemaman.
“We filed the petitions on the basis of corruption,” he said, adding that 20 voters had agreed to come forward as witnesses.
He said the petitions were also filed based on a court decision to nullify C Sivaraj’s win in the 2018 Cameron Highlands state election due to vote-buying during the election campaign.
In GE15, Che Alias Hamid won the Kemaman seat with a majority of 27,179 votes, defeating three challengers, including Ahmad.
Marang was won by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang in a four-cornered fight with a majority of 41,729 votes.
The Kuala Terengganu seat was won by Amzad Hashim with a majority of 40,907 votes. — Free Malaysia Today