TOK MAT: UP TO COPS, MACC TO PROBE RM10M TRANSFER
Anwar urges authorities to reopen probe into Mohamad’s case
WITH six days to go until polling day, the Pakatan Harapan machinery in Rantau has ramped up its campaign against Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
The campaigning had been calm and devoid of controversy.
However, that changed when a decade-old scandal involving RM10 million was dredged up.
Tongues were wagging when Negri Sembilan Speaker Zulkefly Mohamad Omar, during a PH ceramah on Saturday night, highlighted a case in which Mohamad
allegedly broke banking laws by transferring RM10 million to London via a money-changer.
He questioned why no action was taken by the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) against Mohamad despite a report lodged on the matter.
However, Mohamad appeared unperturbed by Zulkefly’s attack.
The former menteri besar not only denied wrongdoing, but also urged disgruntled parties to lodge reports against him.
“(It is) up to the police and MACC if they want to launch an investigation.
“I didn’t do anything wrong. I made the transfer using a moneychanger to buy an apartment in London,” he said at BN’s command centre here yesterday.
Observers had expected the campaign to go into high gear in the second leg of the polls, and PH has not disappointed.
PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had campaigned aggressively for PH candidate Dr S. Streram.
Some in the media even joked that Anwar himself was contesting the by-election.
“Why do you people keep hounding me? I will be here every day.
“We had a press conference earlier.
“I’m not even the candidate,” he said to reporters after a ceramah in Kampung Sega Tengah.
But the prime minister-in-waiting gave no quarter to Mohamad yesterday, calling for the probe into the latter’s case to be reopened.
“Investigations should be conducted.
“If you are going to investigate PKR members, investigate Tok Mat, too,” he said on the sidelines of a ceramah in Kampung Sagga.
He was referring to BN’s allegation that Dr Streram’s campaign manager, U. Karunesh, was responsible for the provocative banners that appeared in the constituency recently.
It was alleged that Karunesh was apprehended by police yesterday, but that turned out to be fake news when the man himself appeared before the media.
“He was never arrested. He’s here with me.
“No one was arrested,” Dr Streram said in Kampung Sagga while pointing at Karunesh, who was standing nearby.
Mohamad had said he had nothing to do with the banners, which urged Malay voters not to vote for a candidate of Indian descent.
Political analyst Professor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia said he expected more mudslinging in the days to come.
“The same method used to derail Pas’ campaign in Semenyih is emerging here.
“Character assassination is employed to influence voters. It failed in Semenyih and will not work in Rantau.
“I don’t think the scandal concerning Mohamad will affect his chances of winning because he is well liked by constituents regardless of their ethnicity and religion.
“His closeness to voters will be a determining factor on April 13.”
The by-election sees a four-cornered fight between Mohamad, Dr Streram and two independent candidates, R. Malarvizhi and Mohd Nor Yassin.
The by-election was called after the Federal Court dismissed an appeal by Mohamad to set aside an Election Court (EC) decision to declare his victory in the 14th General Election null and void.
Mohamad had won the seat uncontested because Dr Streram was unable to submit his nomination papers after being denied entry into the nomination centre for not having a pass issued by the EC.
The seat has 20,926 registered voters, including 118 early voters and four absentee voters.