Zaid accepts verdict, blames ‘vote buying’

By Stephanie Sta Maria and Rahmah Ghazali, FMT

KUALA KUBU BARU: Addressing some 500 supporters at the mini stadium here, PKR candidate Zaid Ibrahim said he was defeated because “vote-buying was halal” in this country.

“This is a problem we need to overcome. (Prime Minister) Najib (Tun Razak) spent RM64 million to win this election and the EC (Election Commission) turned a blind eye,” he said. 

The 56-year-old former law minister stressed that Malaysia has a political system which does not respect clean elections.

“In 2008, we made headway because Pak Lah (former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) allowed the opposition to win seats. 

“But then they (Umno) kicked him out and now we are back at square one,” he said.

Stressing that he was not making excuses for his defeat, Zaid underscored the importance of pressing for clean and fair elections.

“I can accept my loss, but we were not given the satisfaction of knowing that it was a fair fight, and the rakyat has no confidence (in the system),” he said.

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