Home TA Online Padang Serai election: Outburst against ‘cash for votes’ raises concern

Padang Serai election: Outburst against ‘cash for votes’ raises concern

Without 'givers', there cannot be 'takers' - and therein lies the rot!

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Perikatan Nasional election director Sanusi Md Nor’s outburst against supporters seeking “duit minyak” (transport allowance) in exchange for their votes in the Padang Serai parliamentary election has raised concerns.

Sanusi’s remarks may well have opened a proverbial can of worms, highlighting suspicions over the prevalence of a ‘cash for votes’ modus operandi.

The point is, without ‘givers’, there cannot be ‘takers’ – and therein lies the rot!

Given Sanusi’s emotional outburst, people cannot be faulted for believing that the would-be takers were disappointed with the failure of alleged givers to bankroll their monetary expectations. What gave rise to such expectations?

Sanusi’s rant ought to prompt an investigation by the authorities to establish who the givers are, if any.

To the would-be takers, I say exercise your democratic right to vote for whoever you prefer – but do it with conscience. If you are prepared to ‘sell’ your precious ballot to the highest bidder, it is tantamount to ‘prostituting’ your sacred right.

To any would-be givers, I say you would be an accomplice to a grave offence – enticing voters with financial handouts. By such disgusting conduct, you would lose – if you have not already lost it – the moral compass to stake a claim for political relevance.

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.

AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
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  2. Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
  3. Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
  4. Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
  5. Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
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K Veeriah, a longtime Aliran contributor, has been a trade union industrial relations officer, involved mainly in collective bargaining and handling trade disputes, since 1978. He has also served as secretary of the Penang division of the Malaysian Trades Union Congress since 1991, after stints on the MTUC's national executive committee and general council
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