MACC investigating alleged vote-buying in PKR polls
KUCHING: A storm is brewing over irregularities in the membership registration for the Julau branch of Parti Keadilan Rakyat ( PKR), which could rock the 20-year- old party like a hurricane.
PKR Sarawak information chief Vernon Aji Kedit told reporters yesterday that he had handed over to the MACC ‘incontrovertible’ evidence, indicating that votebuying could have occurred in Julau on Saturday.
“In this tiny thumb- drive is explosive and shocking evidence that blatant and unbridled corruption had occurred rampantly in Julau on Nov 10. The details are sickening and the modus operandi disgusting, to say the least.
“We thank, honour and praise the brave people of Julau for coming forward and stepping up to expose these corrupt practices, which are abhorrent to the rule of law and an outright mockery of what our party stands for,” said Vernon, who is also Pakatan Harapan ( PH) Sarawak communications director.
He revealed that it was the second time he lodged a report to MACC Sarawak.
“I am here this morning to lodge a second report with the MACC and hand over this new evidence, which is the logical culmination of the carefully engineered and orchestrated scheme to intentionally manipulate our party’s election process and outcome,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, MACC Sarawak director Razim Mohd Noor said his side would leave no stone unturned in their investigation into the allegation of corruption during the PKR election in Sarawak.
“I will use my full force, Sarawak team,” he told The Borneo Post, confirming that his office received a report and evidence submitted by Vernon yesterday.
“The investigation is ongoing. Yes (on receiving the report and evident from Vernon), this morning,” he said.
Razim stressed that the information channelled by PKR Sarawak would be treated as supporting information to the case that they are currently investigating.
“We consider this as additional information,” he said, confirming that a staff from PKR Julau office was interrogated after MACC received the first report from PKR Sarawak recently.
Razim also confirmed that MACC is monitoring the PKR election in Julau closely, adding that the investigation team comprises Sarawak-based MACC officers.
“We are reporting to ( MACC) headquarters every day,” he said on the progress of the investigation.
Razim said the commission temporarily halted their investigation last week to give room to PKR Sarawak to conduct the party election.
“Yes. We (temporarily) held ( back) our action last week to give way to party elections. We will continue,” he said.
For the record, PKR Julau courted controversy after its membership shot up from 603 on June 26 this year, to 13,000 the following day.
The first report lodged by Vernon to MACC on Oct 25 centred on the ‘irregularities and illegalities’ in the Julau branch, as outlined in his statutory declaration ( SD) dated Oct 17.
The SD stated that 1,310 individuals were registered without their knowledge or consent as they never intended to join the party; 65 were re-registered although they were already members; and 71 were registered twice in different branches.
On Nov 3, MACC interrogated two PKR staff members over the alleged registration of ‘phantom’ voters. One of them is based at the PKR headquarters, while the other is at PKR Julau office.
PKR headquarters has insisted that there has been no breach in the new membership application process of Julau PKR, despite numerous complaints and reports to MACC.
On Nov 10, thousands of PKR members donning yellow T-shirts emblazoned with photos of Julau MP Larry Sng, cast their votes in Julau.
On Nov 11, A PKR election officer was arrested over alleged ‘cyber attack’ on the party’s evoting system in Julau. He was later released on police bail.
In this tiny thumb-drive is explosive and shocking evidence that blatant and unbridled corruption had occurred rampantly in Julau on Nov 10. The details are sickening and the modus operandi disgusting, to say the least. Vernon Aji Kedit, PKR Sarawak information chief