Jeram Padang PN candidate denies involvement with gangsters

JEMPOL - Perikatan Nasional (PN) Jeram Padang state assembly candidate Datuk Seri S Surash has denied allegations of being involved with gangsters as seen in a viral video on Whatsapp last Saturday.

He said the act was clearly meant to disturb the state polls in which he is a candidate for the state assembly.

"There' are many unquestionable things there... about my education, issues about money and the cars I own.... that is all not true because if I did do something wrong, I believe that the police are always watching over me.

"They know who I really am. After all, before becoming a candidate and obtaining the pledge, we had to make a police report for screening. Right now, there are still bad folks slandering me, claiming that I am not only involved with gangsters but they also touched on my personal life," he told reporters, today.

He said the police report was lodged to uphold justice according to law and prevent defamation crimes that could undermine the nation's harmony.

Surash further denied all allegations and believed that the "irresponsible act was made out of dissatisfaction with the welfare of the Jeram Padang constituency all this time."

"Anyway, I believe that the people of Jeram Padang state assembly know who I am and how I work especially before and after the last 14th General Election (GE14). Now, its the state polls," he said.

The 4.12-minute video showed Surash with tattoos suspected to be related to gangsters, wearing branded clothes and driving cars as well as socialising in various photos.

Surash lodged a police report at the Jempol district police headquarters (IPD) at 10.53am today, this was accompanied by the Jeram Padang PN election machinery.

Meanwhile, Jempol district police chief Superintendent Hoo Chang Hook confirmed receiving a police report and that further investigations are underway.

In GE14, Surash ran as an independent candidate in the same state assembly and managed to get the second highest number of votes after Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Datuk L Manickam who defended the seat for the second term obtained 3,702 votes.

Surash obtained 2,640 votes and as an independent candidate, the votes he received were exceptional compared to PKR candidate who obtained 2,302 while Pas candidate gained 785 votes.