Declaration of Institutionalization of Electoral Bribery: Political Bribery and Political Promise o
Declaration of Institutionalization of Electoral Bribery:
Political Bribery and Political Promise of Bribery amounting to RM 1 Billion
3 anomalies which were observed during the execution of the By-Election Process in Kuala Terengganu (P036):
1. Institutionalization of Bribery in the elections
2. Misappropriation of Governmental Engine
3. Overwhelming attendance of Police Force.
Bribery was rampant during Elections in Malaysia, this is certainly evident during the recent Kuala Terengganu elections.
The institutionalized practice of Bribery is usually assumed to be cash distributed unabashedly. During the KT elections, RM300 and RM250 were readily distributed to adults and youth unabashedly to citizens of Terengganu. Even the Chinese were awarded RM300 each as “Ang Pow Money”. The Trishaw pullers on the other hand, were promised RM10,000 each.
The Press core, were also included in this Bribery flamboyancy. On the evening of the 16th Jan 2009, a day before election day, every Press personnel who were at the BN Media Tents were given RM300 in unmarked white envelopes. Two weeks before that, the said same were given raincoats costing RM98 each.
Indirect Bribery to “fish for votes” were abundant, amongst them are listed below:
1. The formation and allocation of RM1 million for an “Emergency Fishermen's' Fund”
2. Allocation of RM150k for a KT Fishermen's' Scheme.
3. Assignment of unsolicited “non-tendered” (uncontested) of 583 Class F Projects amounting to RM15.8million
4. A sudden Ground-Breaking Ceremony of an RM10 million Cardiology Unit
5. Another sudden Ground-Breaking Ceremony of a Mosque in Kubang Ikan on the 15th of January.
6. A third Ground-Breaking Ceremony of 1,200 units of Ultra-Low Cost Housing Projects.
7. A fourth Ground-Breaking Ceremony of RM100 million to build 1,000 low cost houses in Kuala Terengganu.
8. A mysterious “gift” of RM6.1 million to Chung Hwa Wei Sin Primary School.
9. Cash gifts amounting to RM2.5million indiscriminately distributed to the Chinese residents of Kuala Terengganu.
10. A RM50 million grant suddenly assigned to Chinese schools in Terengganu.
11. Sudden gifts of Pilot E-books to 100 students in KT, with the promise of another indiscriminate 23,000 valued at RM 1,300 each to school children.
12. 206 songket weavers suddenly received a set of “Kek Tenunan Tradisional” valued at RM695 each.
13. The immediate distribution of RM408.6 million to the Government of Terengganu in Oil Royalties.
14. And the sudden declaration of a Project to expand (and deepen) the area around the fishing port at the Cendering Port.
Thus is the Misappropriation of Authority of the Governmental Engine.
With regards to this Bribery practice, the following is a short list of the blatant misuse of Governmental Powers at the Local, State and Federal Level.
l –>At the local level, the Datuk Bandar Kuala Terengganu caught Mat Razali Kassim, the Elections Officer Campaigning and coercing his subordinates to vote for BN. (He was forced to resign thereafter)
l –>His replacement, the Setiausaha Majlis Bandaraya Kuala Terengganu, previously was also chastised for being personally involved in Campaigning for the BN.
l –>The use of the Chief Minister's and JKR machinery in the ground-breaking ceremony of the Officiating Ceremonies of the aforesaid Mosque.
l –>During a Campaign at Gong Badak, The Irrigation and Drainage Department was instructed to analyze the frequent flooding in the Pusu Tiga Housing Estate, in Gong Badak.
l –>State Sec and the Director of State Finance were intimately involved in the BN Programs targeted specifically at Imams, Bilals, Village Chiefs, and Civil Servants. This includes the Governments outside of the P036 Electoral Jurisdiction.
l –>The Officiating of the title “Malaysian Institute of Teachers Training”, and a “SMK” title to a privately owned Campus and school, to a certain Datuk Razali Ismail. (He is a Parliamentary Rep of KT.)
The following Governmental Bodies were directly involved during the P036 Campaign:
1. Ministry of Health
2. Ministry of Education
3. Ministry of Social Welfare
4. Ministry of Agriculture
5. Ministry of Finance
6. Prime Minister's Department
7. Ministry of Information
8. Ministry of Women, Family and Community.
The Campaign also offered Services at Governmental Expenditure which appeared to be BN sponsored.
1. The cash disbursement of RM500k in December to Flood Victims.
2. RM200k as food and misc expenditure for the same.
3. The sudden direct-flights for all Terengganu bound Haj Pilgrims.
4. A sudden replacement of Atap-roofs.
Many other Ministers and their Deputies and their excos were also involved in the Campa of P036. Amongst them were:
1. Abdullah Badawi
2. Najib Razak
3. Zahid Hamidi
4. Mohd Shafie Apdal
5. Dr. Ng Yen Yen
6. Shahrizat
7. Hishamuddin Hussein
8. Muhyidin Yassin
9. Ong Tee Kiat
10. Muhamad Taib
11. Azalina Othman
12. Syed Hamid Albar
13. Noh Omar
14. Hamzah Zainudin
15. Ali Rustam
16. Lim Guan Eng
17. Ahmad Said
18. Mohamad Nizar
19. Ngeh Koo Ham
20. Nik Aziz
21. Khalid Ibrahim
22. Theresa Kok
23. Elizebeth Wong
24. Husam Musa
25. Nik Aziz Nik Mat
26. Hasan Ali
The question is, who bore the cost of these individuals Campaigning?
There were also blatant cash disbursements and “Free Gifts” by BN to the Journalists from Utusan Malaysia, Berita Harian and Sinar Harian. Many Concerts were also “sponsored” by The Information Ministry; these included famous Terengganu singers such as Salim Iklim.
PAS also violated “Fair Ethical Electoral Practice”. They were giving out wheelchairs at Bukit Tepu, giving out free haircuts and free Homeopathy consultation.
Excessive amounts of Police Personnel.
It is estimated that there were 10,000 Uniformed Police Personnel who were “ordered” to be stationed in KT during the entire months' Campaign. The ridiculous ratio of 1 Police Personnel to 8 Civilians is unheard of.
The excessive Police presence was creating a “War-Zone” like situation. Their alleged purpose was to ensure safety, but this caused much undesirable public stress, and an “emergency-like” situation. This goes against good electoral practice of free and peaceful elections.
The Electoral Act needs revision to curb and prevent Bribery and Corruption as wheels to “buy” votes. This is most apparent with the illegal abuse of Governmental Bodies, and Authorities to Campaign, and needs to be made immediately illegal.
Fortunately, the voters at Kuala Terrengganu are mature, and a good majority are immune to being offered “sweets” (gifts) during elections.
Yunus Ali
Pengerusi NIEI
Translated by Michael Chick
