KUALA LUMPUR: Terengganu Umno has filed election petitions alleging vote buying in three constituencies – Marang, Kuala Terengganu dan Kemaman – in the recent general election (GE15).
Terengganu Umno chief Ahmad Said said the petitions were filed at the Kuala Terengganu High Court on Jan 3.
Ahmad said the vote-buying took place on Nov 15, 16 and 17, with most households in the constituencies receiving RM500 to RM1,000 each. Polling for GE15 took place on Nov 19.
“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.
“While it is a special fund under the Terengganu state government, and also funding from PN, the fact that it was given out during the election makes it morally wrong.
“Meanwhile, at Kampung Tok Hakim, a viral TikTok video showed someone admitting, “I took money from you, so I will vote for PAS”, Ahmad said during a press conference at the World Trade Centre here.
Ahmad said they have 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 refused to cooperate.
Umno lawyer Amin Othman said the petitions were filed to to challenge the victory of the PAS candidates in Kemaman, Marang and Kuala Terengganu in GE15.
“We have filed the petitions on the basis of corruption,” he said, adding that 20 voters have come forward as witnesses.
Amin added that the petitions were filed based on the precedent set by the election court in Nov 2018 when it decided to nullify Barisan Nasional candidate C Sivaraj’s win in Cameron Highlands in the previous general election (GE14) due to vote-buying during the election campaign.
At GE15, Che Alias Hamid of PAS won the Kemaman seat with a majority of 27,179, overcoming three challengers, including Ahmad.
Marang was won by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang in a four-corner fight, with a majority of 41,729.
Meanwhile, the Kuala Terengganu seat was won by Amzad Hashim of PAS who received a majority of 40,907 votes.