KT: Are KT Votes for sale? or not.

Who was giving out money to voters for their votes?

The Election Commission's position would likely be that it is OK - no problem as long as it is not the candidate and/or his/her agent.

Political parties are not committing an offence by holding dinners as part of their activities in Kuala Terengganu by-election campaign, according to the Election Commission (EC).

MCPX

EC deputy chairperson Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said the provisions of the Election Offences Act 1954 refers to only the conduct of a candidate standing for election and to the candidate's agent.

"It is not fair to blame the candidate for something that is sometimes beyond his influence or control," said Wan Ahmad told a press conference at the Kuala Terengganu municipal council today.- Malaysiakini, 12/1/2009, EC: Law does not forbid treating by parties (see also earlier post.)


So, Wan Farid need not worry about anything - as long as he and/or his agent did not do it...

BN candidate Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh today denied he had anything to do with the claims of two reporters who were given money at the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election media centre yesterday.

MCPX

According to Bernama, Wan Ahmad said “people would do anything to tarnish my name” during the by-election.

“I don’t have any money to offer to anybody ... you know people can do anything especially in this by-election.

“It is not from Barisan Nasional, that is for sure. That is not my money,” he told reporters after casting his vote at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Pusat Bukit Besar polling centre this morning. - Malaysiakini, 17/1/2009 Wan Farid: It's not my money

So who was the person handing out money and for whom...

Wan Farid says it is not the Barisan National ...

“It is not from Barisan Nasional, that is for sure. That is not my money,” he told reporters after casting his vote at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Pusat Bukit Besar polling centre this morning.- Malaysiakini, 17/1/2009 Wan Farid: It's not my money

Well, let us consider the facts ...

a) The money was being handed out at the at '...the state information department’s media centre in Kuala Terengganu...' - Is it not a BN State government in Terengganu?

b) Who was handing out the money? ... the report seems to suggest that it was some '.... media centre staff...", who later it was reported that "...The media centre staff could not answer when quizzed about the source of the money...." Was it the same staff or a different staff?

c) There was procedure and forms to fill before the reporters got their 'envelopes' with cash.. so it was an open affair at the state media centre...not some 'behind the pillar...secretly handing out money by some unknowns...'

Earlier, it was revealed that RM300 cash was distributed to more than a dozen journalists at the state information department’s media centre in Kuala Terengganu.

Journalists were asked to list their names, the organisation they work for and telephone numbers on a blank piece of paper by a media centre staff before being given a white envelope containing six RM50 notes.

Four Malaysiakini journalists wrote their details on the paper without knowing about the ‘gift’.

The four later returned the envelopes with a total of RM1,200 to the media centre staff. Several other journalists also did the same.- Malaysiakini, 17/1/2009 Wan Farid: It's not my money

"Wan Ahmad stressed that he wanted to win the by-election in a fair manner and not through unlawful means..." but alas, can that happen under the UMNO-led BN government.

If you do not vote for the BN - then you will suffer...you will be deprived fruits of development...

Come on - this is the state of Terengganu - when BN lost, the oil royalty apparently stopped flowing into the State coffers, and the Pas led-Opposition government were prevented from using the money for the people of Terengganu.

Take a look at the RTM news - and the manner in which the reporters report is already biased in favour of BN. We never hear anything positive about the PAS candidate or the Opposition parties.

Hence, there is no fairness in our elections..

That makes the fact that PAS wins this elections even more sweet - a win for PAS despite all these unfairness would be ver telling of the feelings of our Malaysian people.

But - Mohd Najib Razak is there now - and the way his majority jumped in later elections after a very slim victory in 1999 tells us that this man is the 'grand master' of ... turning the tide.

Given his involvement in KT, and his standing as 'prime minister to be in a few months' - a loss will really be a BIG blow for the BN.

For the voters of KT, this by-elections is really not very significant - as the state is already under BN, and voting opposition only gives the Pakatan Rakyat one more seat in Parliament - and they need quite a lot more if they want to become Federal Government. So, the KT voter may say, let's vote BN and get the goodies promised - and come next GE truly express our choice.

But then, will there be more goodies handed out by BN trying to wrest back lost seats OR maintaining existing seats?

Najib and BN cannot afford lose their KT seat - but for Pakatan Rakyat - it really does not matter - a win would be good.