Indie candidate alleges vote buying in Kanowit

One of the independent candidates who contested in Kanowit in the just-concluded 15th general election is upset by what he alleged as unethical practice of vote buying.

George Chen, who lost in the election after garnering only 741 votes in a five-cornered fight for the parliamentary seat, claimed that based on his observation and actual experience, vote buying was still very rampant in Kanowit.

“Hence, I lost very badly simply because I emphasised and abided by the rules and regulations of a clean and fair election.

“Those who have voted for me despite not getting a single sen from me, they are also equally clean and fair throughout the election process.

“This means that rural folk did not necessarily use money in order to win in an election,” he said when contacted.

Chen claimed he personally managed to stop an individual and his team from distributing money to voters outside a polling centre.

“I have video evidence and photos of the incident. I have also lodged a police report regarding the matter on Saturday night.

“If there has not been such unethical practice to convince and lure voters, I do not think my votes will only be 741,” he said.

He alleged that money politics and threatening of community leaders have been going on for so long and the people are annoyed by this unclean and unjust practice.

“I would say this definitely affects the election results,” he said.

Chen, who contested for the third time in an election, also congratulated Kanowit MP Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang for winning the election.

“But he must help the electorate in Kanowit because they are in desperate need of all kinds of infrastructure development, economy in terms of job opportunities, improvement of income, eradication of poverty and environmental sustainability,” he said.