Takiyuddin claims bribery, Fahmi says PAS preparing for defeat

Takiyuddin claims bribery, Fahmi says PAS preparing for defeat

Published: May 7, 2024 12:19 PM


KKB BY-ELECTION | With four days left before polling day, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan claims to have evidence of bribery by his opponents.

He warned that if Perikatan Nasional loses the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election as a result, they will file an election petition.

However, responding to Takiyuddin’s petition remark, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the PAS leader’s defeatist attitude showed that PN’s morale had collapsed and it was as if they were almost ready to surrender.

Pakatan Harapan candidate Pang Sock Tao also denied allegations that she and her party machinery committed election offences while campaigning.

Yesterday, after attending a campaign event of the PN candidate Khairul Azhari Saut in Kuala Kubu Baharu, Takiyuddin claimed he had obtained evidence of bribery by Harapan and called on voters to ensure victory for PN if they do not want to “vote twice”.

“We have obtained (evidence of) violations such as short videos and other records.

“We have collected these, so I urge the voters of Kuala Kubu Baharu, if you do not want another by-election, ensure that PN wins in this by-election.

“If the other side, namely Harapan, wins, it is very likely, not just possible, but certain that we will appeal the results of this by-election,” Takiyuddin said.

The former law minister said any candidate or political party can appeal the election results, citing examples of election petitions in Terengganu, Kelantan, and Malacca during the 15th general election.

He pointed out that the election court had ruled that the Terengganu government’s aid distribution during the elections constituted electoral bribery.

That resulted in the nullification of PAS’ election win in Kuala Terengganu.

“Even though the state government was not dissolved at that time, it was performing its duties by assisting the people of Terengganu through the budget, but the election court still deemed this as bribery.

“Therefore, we have seen a lot of (evidence), we have a lot of evidence, and many government agencies have been abused. To us, this constitutes bribery. If Harapan wins, we will definitely sue,” he said.

Campaigning prudently

Pang, 31, who is representing the federal government, on the other hand, is confident that she and her party machinery have been and will always comply with all election rules and laws.

“We are campaigning prudently, the opposition can say anything, but our focus (is) to ensure that victory is on the side of the unity government,” she said.

She was speaking to reporters after inspecting the early voting process at the multipurpose hall of the Royal Malaysian Police College today.

Pakatan Harapan candidate Pang Sock Tao


Meanwhile, while not responding directly to the bribery claims, Fahmi said PN seems to have almost surrendered.

In a TikTok post, Fahmi said the opposition’s morale has seemingly collapsed.

“I read a media report about the PAS secretary-general and his statement, ‘If Pakatan Harapan is destined to win’.

“So that sentence has shown that PN’s morale and spirit has collapsed and it is as if they are almost ready to surrender,” he said.

The four-cornered fight in Kuala Kubu Baharu includes Pang Sock Tau (Harapan-DAP), Khairul Azhari Saut (PN-Bersatu), Hafizah Zainudin (Parti Rakyat Malaysia), and Nyau Ke Xin (Independent).

The by-election is being held following the death of incumbent Lee Kee Hiong, 58, on March 21 due to cancer.

The Election Commission set the polling day on May 11 with early voting on May 7.