PKR TO PROBE MONEY POLITICS
Election steering and disciplinary committees to take action, says Anwar
PKR has referred the allegation of money politics made by Rafizi Ramli to the party’s election steering committee and disciplinary committee.
“We have gathered all the neccesary information and referred it to the two commitees for action,” PKR president-elect Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said at the Parliament lobby here yesterday.
Anwar on Tuesday said he would raise the matter at the PKR political bureau meeting which was held on Tuesday.
The allegation of money politics in the ongoing party polls was raised by Rafizi, who is PKR vicepresident last week.
Rafizi, who is vying for the number two post in the party, said party members should reject candidates who embraced such a culture and urged them to learn from Umno, which fell due to allegations of money politics.
Rafizi alleged that money politics was rampant in at least six states.
He said there were certain individuals who had offered between RM100,000 and RM200,000 per branch to vote for them, and RM100 for each party member casting his vote in their favour.
Following his allegation, Kapar member of parliament Datuk Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid said money politics could not be allowed to become rampant in PKR and needed to be stopped before it became a “cancer”, which would destroy the party.
He said such dirty politics in party elections also eroded public trust in PKR.
“Some members came to me to complain that they were offered money by certain individuals to vote for certain people.
“And I am not the only one who has received complaints... Many PKR leaders have, as well.
“Why does this happen in PKR? We have to remember Umno was destroyed by those who practised money politics in its elections. Does PKR want the party to go the same way as Umno?” he asked.
Abdullah Sani, who is running for a central leadership position in the party elections, urged the PKR election committee to probe every complaint of candidates breaking regulations during the election, especially those involving money politics.
“Complaints have been lodged with the committee but no action has been taken.
“I only hope this issue will not happen in the future as the people have placed high hopes on PKR,” he said.