The Malaysian Insight

TERENGGANU Umno wants PAS to be investigated for allegedly misusing state government funds to “buy” voters in the state in the recent general election.

The state Umno chapter lodged a report on the matter with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in Kuala Terengganu yesterday, its chief Ahmad Said said.

PAS, a Perikatan Nasional (PN) component party, swept all eight parliamentary seats in Terengganu for the first time in the country’s general election history.

“PAS-led state government distributed funds in the form of i-Belia, Dana Ibu Tunggal and Pencen Rakyat openly and these were carried out at the PAS headquarters throughout the campaign period from November 5 to 18.

“Giving these funds is an act of bribery to buy voters’ support for them and it is clearly an offence that should be investigated,” he said at a press conference after the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) session at Wisma Negeri, Kuala Terengganu today.

Ahmad added that the MACC also needs to investigate the sources of large funds used by PN and PAS in the polls.

He said PAS should not claim to have the full support of young electors when it is actually the result of handing out money to them to get votes.

“PN and PAS need not be proud that young people support them. I have said before that these people never think about the future of the country as long as they get money,” he said.

Last week, the former Terengganu menteri besar claimed that PN spent an excessive amount of funds in the state during the election.

Other Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders also criticised PN, asking the coalition to explain their source of funds.

Among the Terengganu PN candidates, PAS fielded seven while Bersatu had one in the state, where they contested under the PAS logo. The coalition successfully defeated all challengers, including Ahmad in Kemaman, and former PAS Shura Council member Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali in Kuala Nerus who stood for election under the BN ticket. – November 30, 2022.