PKR man complains BN workers not investigated over aide’s murder
(The Malay Mail) – Police have not questioned Barisan Nasional (BN) workers from MIC vice-president Datuk M. Saravanan’s Election 2013 campaign on the murder of his opponent’s aide during the poll, PKR’s K. Vasantha Kumar complained today.
“So far, none from BN’s side ― no investigations, no statement taken from M. Saravanan,” Vasantha told reporters at the PKR headquarters here.
Instead, he said, police have focused their investigation on Pakatan Rakyat supporters.
“I got to know from the Batu Gajah IO (investigating officer) that 22 suspects have been remanded and investigated. The 22 are (K.) Murugan’s friends and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) supporters,” he added.
Vasantha, who lost the contest for the Tapah federal seat to Saravanan in the 13th general election, also alleged that three ballot boxes containing early and postal votes for Tapah and two state seats ― Ayer Kuning and Chenderoh ― had been removed by Election Commission (EC) officers from the Tapah police station on May 2, three days before the May 5 polling day.
But he conceded that the killing of his aide, K. Murugan, was likely not linked to the alleged polls fraud as the latter went missing earlier on May 1, before the body was discovered on Polling Day in Batu Gajah, Perak.
Vasantha also said that a suspect from BN fled to Indonesia after Perak deputy police chief Datuk A. Paramasivam released a statement last month that police was looking for two men to help in the murder case.
PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli, who was also at the press conference, said the Tapah campaign was characterised by violence and constant brawls between the MIC and his party.
“Vasantha had to have security,” said Rafizi.
Vasantha said Murugan had received threatening calls before disappearing on May 1 after a ceramah in Bidor at night.
Murugan’s body was found four days later in a disused mining pool in Bemban Industrial Park, Batu Gajah.
Vasantha also revealed several photographs to the media showing men in black shirts with EC logos carrying a ballot box marked Ayer Kuning in the Tapah police station on May 2. He said that the photographs were taken by his aides.
One of them — D. Allapah @ Dr Raja — told reporters at the same press conference that the EC officers snubbed his questions on why they were moving the ballot boxes before Polling Day.
“It’s none of your business. We’re doing our duty,” Allapah quoted them as saying. “They said we cannot snap photos.”
Vasantha said six EC officers were involved in moving the three ballot boxes.
He added that the ballot box for Tapah contained 2,195 votes, but was unsure about the other two boxes.
Vasantha lost the Tapah seat to Saravanan who is now the youth and sports deputy minister, by 7,927 votes.
