Camerons candidate files election petition

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR candidate for the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat, M. Manogaran, filed an election petition over claims that Tok Batin (Orang Asli chiefs) there were bribed with duit rokok (cigarette money).

Manogaran, 59, filed the application at the High Court registration counter through legal firm Messrs Kumar Associates on Monday, naming Barisan Nasional candidate C. Sivaraj, 42, as respondent.

The petition was filed to challenge the 14th General Election (GE14) result for the constituency that saw Sivaraj win in a fivecornered fight with a majority of 597 votes.

Manogaran, in the application claimed that Sivaraj, along with Jelai assemblyman Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, who was later sworn in as Pahang menteri besar, had carried out an election campaign together.

He said Wan Rosdy had introduced Sivaraj to the Orang Asli voters, whom he said were not keen on trusting outsiders.

Manogaran, as the petitioner, said Orang Asli, who live in nine posts and several villages in Cameron Highlands, made up about 20 per cent of the voters in the constituency.

He said the Orang Asli voters were easily influenced and were under the power of the respondent as a BN candidate.

Manogaran claimed he had carried out various activities in Cameron Highlands since five years ago and that the community had assured that their votes would go to PKR should he contest there.

However, he claimed that there was a swing of votes among the Orang Asli constituents as a result of the respondent’s corrupt practices.

Manogaran said Sivaraj’s actions were in violation of Section 9 (1) of the Election Offences Act 1954 and was seeking a declaration that his win be declared null and void.

He also sought a court order or other relief deemed necessary with cost.