Perikatan accuses BN of bribing voters through ‘Jelajah Orang Mahkota’ carnival

KLUANG, Sept 22 — Opposition party Perikatan Nasional (BN) wants police to investigate the ruling Barisan Nasional party over what it called voter bribery during the campaign for the by-election in Mahkota State in Johor.

Shazni Sulaiman, coordinator of the PN youth wing’s election machinery, and Badrul Hisham Shaharin, a Bersatu member, filed a complaint at the Kluang police station yesterday, news portal Free Malaysia Today reported.

“We also saw the BN candidate (Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah) together with the menteri besar during the ‘Jelajah Orang Mahkota’ event,” Shazni was quoted as telling reporters outside the police station.

He claimed that the two-day event, organised by the Johor government, was intended as an incentive for Mahkota voters to vote for BN on September 28.

He alleged that the event included motorcycles for sale, reportedly worth thousands of ringgit, which would constitute a corrupt practice under the Election Offences Act of 1954.

“BN claims that this carnival is not part of their campaign, but that is clearly a lie as their candidate accompanied Onn Hafiz to almost all the events,” Shazni was quoted as saying.

He was referring to BN candidate Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah and Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi respectively.

The PN candidate is former footballer Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah.

The elections in Mahkota were called following the death of its BN representative Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Husin on August 2 while she was undergoing treatment at Enche’ Besar Hajjah Khalsom Hospital.

Onn Hafiz has earlier appealed to all political parties to adopt a polite approach during the campaign and not use underhand tactics to win the seat.

Yesterday, national news agency Bernama reported that Onn Hafiz praised all campaigners for maintaining harmony in following what he called the “Johor Way”.