Candidate seeks investigation into alleged election offences

KUCHING: Senior William Rade, who stood as an independent candidate in the Serian parliamentary seat, has called on the relevant authorities to investigate election offences allegedly committed by his Barisan Nasional (BN) opponent in the just-concluded election.

Senior said his seconder Robert Dile filed a report at the Serian police station during polling day on Wednesday, after BN polling agents were found distributing printed materials bearing the BN’s logo and candidate’s photo at several polling stations in the constituency. He pointed out that this contravened election laws as no campaigning is allowed on polling day.

“A police report has been lodged by us since we believe there was vote buying involved during polling. I am now looking forward to meeting the Election Commission (EC) to report this wrongdoing by the BN candidate’s camp.

“We would like to request the election result to be declared null and void, and a by-election to be held if indeed the acts committed by the BN candidate were found to contravene the election rules and laws,” he said when met here yesterday.

Senior polled 2,234 votes and did not lose his deposit in the three-cornered fight for Serian.

The seat was won for a seventh consecutive time by BN candidate Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem, who polled 17,545 votes to win by a 9,905-vote majority against his closest challenger Edward Andrew Luak of the Democratic Action Party, who managed 7,640 votes.

Senior thanked everyone who voted for him despite the uphill battle and lack of machinery.

“I want to congratulate Pakatan Harapan Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen as well for leading PH Sarawak to win 10 parliamentary seats in Sarawak. Hopefully, PH honours all its election pledges made especially for Sarawak,” he said.

Senior added he hoped the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission would continue its probe into the alleged misappropriation of RM40 million in funds channelled to the Skills Development Fund Corporation – a statutory body under the Human Resources Ministry.