RM1mil offer to pull out
(The Star) SUNGAI PETANI: Several independent candidates claimed they had been offered money to withdraw from contesting the Bukit Selambau state seat.
Independent candidate T. Chandrarajan claimed a representative from PKR had offered him RM50,000 to withdraw.
Another candidate, who declined to be named, also claimed he was offered RM1mil by PKR to withdraw.
“They are scared because I know too many of their secrets,” the candidate said, adding that he had rejected the offer.
Several other candidates also claimed they were offered RM150,000 each to withdraw from contesting the seat.
Malaysia Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) Kedah director Nooraziah Abd Manaf said Chandrarajan was questioned following his claim in a news portal that he was offered money as an inducement to withdraw.
“It is an offence not to report such incidents. We have questioned Chandrarajan over the matter,” she said.
Nooraziah said action could be taken against Chandrarajan for not alerting MACC on the offer made to him.
The offence carries a maximum fine of RM100,000 or a jail sentence of up to 10 years if convicted.
Candidate R. Loganathan said a person claiming to represent PKR had called up his friend to ask if RM150,000 was enough for him to withdraw.
Another candidate, who preferred to remain anonymous, also claimed that he was offered RM150,000 to withdraw.
Independent candidate Tan Hock Huat said someone had offered to pay the losses if he withdrew from contesting the seat.
He said he had declined the offer.
Kedah PKR chief Ahmad Kassim denied the party had offered money for any independent candidate to withdraw from the race.
“We don’t even have enough money to move the election machinery,” he said. (Sentence highlighted by MT Admin)
