M'sians are aware of donations and bribe, Saarani tells Pas

SAIFULLAH AHMAD
SAIFULLAH AHMAD
24 Jan 2023 04:00pm
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IPOH - Perak Umno says donations given during an election is considered a bribe.

Its chairman Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said donations or aid to those struggling should be given throughout the year and not "seasonally" to gain voters support.

“Malaysians understand the meaning of donations. The Election Commission (EC) classifies any form of gifts in any form be it cash, envelopes or land for the purpose of influencing voters as bribes.

“Donations is what we do for the poor. If we are only virtuous during an election, that’s an abuse of the term donations,” he told reporters after launching Piccadilly@Greentown Project, here, today.

Pas President Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang on Saturday was reported stating money given during 2022 general election campaigns did not breach the rules as it was given as donations.

But Saarani that was an offence under the Electoral Offences Act 1954.

“If there are those who were brave enough to admit they have received money from a candidate with solid evidence, they could report to the EC and the police for further action,” he said.

Perak Pas in a statement on Monday described Umno’s statement that lumped together the act of donation and bribe as harmful to the country.

Perak Pas Commissioner Razman Zakaria said donation was carried out as part of their religious demand practiced by Pas for a long time.

The statement was made in response to Terengganu Umno’s filing a petition for Marang, Kuala Terengganu and Kemaman parliamentary seats on the grounds of voye buying in all three seats during the 15th General Election (GE15).