Chan: Not all candidates playing by the rules

PORT DICKSON: Some independent candidates of the Port Dickson by-election have voiced their concerns that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has gone against the pledge for free and fair polls.

Independent candidate Stevie Chan Keng Leong said not all candidates are playing by the rules.

“I am disappointed that blatant attempts to ‘buy’ votes are being employed by our candidates,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Another independent candidate Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, without naming anyone, raised concerns that “some candidates” are using government machinery for their campaigns.

“One candidate used the army as a platform. Even mosques are used as venues to give speeches so it’s a clear violation,” he said at a press conference organised by Bersih yesterday.

Anwar, together with four other candidates signed Bersih 2.0’s pledge for clean polls.

Those who signed it include Chan, Mohd Saiful, Lau Seck Yan and Kan Chee Yuen.

The two candidates who did not sign were former Negeri Sembilan mentri besar Tan Sri Isa Samad and Lt Kol (Rtd) Mohd Nazari Mokhtar from PAS.

Bersih 2.0 acting chairperson Shahrul Aman Mohd Saari said it does not agree with such moves.

He said it was not right to create circumstances that gave an unfair advantage to one candidate over others.

Meanwhile, independent candidate Lau also said that Bersih should be proactive in raising concerns with the relevant authorities if candidates violate regulations.