Barisan Nasional candidate for Cameron Highlands by-election, Ramli Mohd Nor said yesterday that if he wins the by-election, it will not be based on bribery.

This is a most welcome statement by the Barisan Nasional candidate and I applaud him for it, for there is a very deliberate and systematic attempt to divert attention as to why the election of MIC Vice President, C. Sivaraajh as MP for Cameron Highlands in the 14th General Election on May 9, 2018 was declared null and void, resulting in the holding a by-election; and in particular the significant role of the Pahang Mentri Besar and State Assemblyman for Jelai, Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail in the money-politics, vote-buying and corrupt election practices during the last general election, which were highlighted in the election court appeal and which Wan Rosdy dared not become a witness to rebut although the election court proceedings were adjourned three times for Wan Rosdy to testify.

Actually the money politics, vote-buying and corrupt election practices in the 14th General Election were not confined to Cameron Highlands, but was fairly routine for most Barisan Nasional campaigns.

The difference was that Cameron Highlands produced 12 “integrity heroes” – eleven of them Orang Asli – who were prepared to testify in open court about the Barisan Nasional’s money politics, vote-buying and corrupt election practices in Cameron Highlands during the last general election!

It is indeed a marvel that Pakatan Harapan and Warisan could win the 14th General Election and form the Federal Government led by Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad despite the money-politics, vote-buying and corrupt election practices of Barisan Nasiona.

In actual fact, if there had been clean and fair election in every constituency in the last general election, Barisan Nasional would not have even won the 79 Parliamentary seats with 54 parliamentary seats secured by UMNO (now reduced to a paltry 37).

The attempt to divert attention as to why the Cameron Highlands by-election was held has led to the attempt to accuse the DAP and Pakatan Harapan of being involved in vote-buying in the by-election, with Barisan Nasional leaders trying to take the high moral ground and spreading on the social media a batch of images showing money being handed out to people in Pakatan Harapan Cameron Highlands T-shirts. Police reports were even lodged by the Barisan Nasional alleging vote-buying.

In actual fact, these were honest and legitimate election expenditures, as they were reimbursement for some 60 Orang Asli volunteer motor-cyclists at RM20 each who came out from remote Orang Asli kampongs especially from the Jelai area to Tanah Rata on Saturday for Nomination.

Is Ramli prepared to reveal publicly how much money the Barisan Nasional spent on Nomination Day?

I have no doubt that what DAP and Pakatan Harapan spent on Nomination Day was only a pittance compared to what Barisan Nasional spent on Nomination Day last Saturday.

This takes us to the second prong of the Barisan Nasional campaign to divert attention from the significant role of Wan Rosdy in the money-politics, vote-buying and corrupt election practices in Cameron Highlands during the last general election, resulting in its being declared null and void.

All those who are interested on this issue should read the judgment of the Election Court Judge, Justice Azizah Nawai in the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Nov. 30, 2018.

If Ramli has difficulty in getting a copy of the judgment, I can quickly furnish him a copy.

In Paragraphs 26 to 33 of the judgement on Sivaraajh and Wan Rosdy arriving at Sekolah SK Sinderut at Pos Sinderut in a helicopter on 30.4.2018 at about 2 pm, the Batins were told to the effect that “Batins must remember who were the leaders… and they must therefore vote for BN” and the Batins present were given RM200 each as “”money for cigarettes”, the election judge said the fact that RM200 was given to the Batins present had been proven.

From Paragraphs 34 to 41, on Sivarrajh and Wan Rosdy’s using a helicopter to visit Pos Lenjang on 6.5.2018, the election judged found that “on the factual matrix” of the case that the Batins were given RM25,000 to be distributed to all voters in their respective villages, and each Batin received RM200.

From Paragraphs 45 to 48, the election judge was satisfied that Sivarrajh and Wan Rosdy later on the same day met seven Batins in Kampung Tual, Janggap, Regang, Sinderut, Cempian, Kabang and Belau and the Batins were given RM300 each.

There were other allegations of Batins being paid large sums of money to be distributed to Orang Asli villagers to buy their votes for Barisan Nasional.

Wan Rosdy is very lucky that his election as State Assemblyman for Jelai had not been challenged in the election court, or his election would also be declared null and void, disqualified from contesting in the Jelai by-election, losing as well the office of Pahang Mentri Besar.

Wan Rosdy is therefore a tainted Pahang Mentri Besar and should not be involved in any manner in the Cameron Highlands by-election because of his violation of the election laws in the 14th General Election.

There should be a special function to honour the Orang Asli witnesses the Cameron Highlands election petition, for they have set a high standard of integrity and probity not only for Orang Ali in Cameron Highlands, but for all Malaysians in the country to be clean, honest and not to succumb to money in elections in Malaysia.

Will Ramli attend a special function to honour these Orang Asli witnesses in the Cameron Highlands election appeal – who have shown by deed that they are honourable and worthwhile Malaysians who are not just local champions but national heroes?

I dare say that if there is no money politics, vote-buying and corrupt election practices, Pakatan Harapan stands a very good chance of winning the Cameron Highlands by-election.

This is why I welcome Ramli’s statement and invite him to make the Cameron Highlands by-election the model for all general elections and by-elections in future whereby the candidates subject themselves to daily scrutiny of their election expenditures.

There are about 30 polling districts in Cameron Highlands parliamentary constituency, namely Pos Terisu, Pos Telanuk, Pos Lemoi, Pos Mensun, Lembah Bertam, Bandar Ringlet, Habu, Ladang Boh 1, Ladang Boh 2, Kea Farm, Tanah Rata, Berinchang, Ladang Sungai Palas, Ladang Blue Valley, Kampung Raja, Kuala Terla, Teringkap, Pos Lanai, Kuala Medang, Tanjung Gahai, Bukit Kota, Kampung Keledek, Lubuk Kulit, FELDA Sungai Koyan Satu, FELDA Sungai Koyan Dua & Tiga, Pos Betau, Pos Sinderut, Pos Lenjang, Pos Titum.

Let the BN and PH candidates submit a daily report of the election expenditures for each of these 30 polling districts.

Will Ramli agree?

In fact, I will go further.

Invite the Election Commission and NGO representatives, including Berish and other election-monitoring NGOs, to monitor the daily by-election activities of each candidate, with PH and BN by-election operations centre submitting a daily itinerary of the by-election activities. The Election Commission and the NGOs should be welcome to send monitors to all by-election activities.

With such arrangement, and the daily report of the election expenditures of the candidates, I have no doubt that we will be introducing an innovation which will ensure free, clean and fair election practices in Malaysia, but the whole world as well!

Will Ramli agree and answer in the next few hours in this age of instant communications when information travels at the speed of light?

(Media Statement by DAP MP for Iskandar Puteri Lim Kit in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, 14th January 2019)

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Kenyataan Media oleh Ahli Parlimen DAP Iskandar Puteri Lim Kit Siang di Kuala Lumpur pada Isnin, 14 Januari 2019:

Adakah Ramli bersedia untuk bekerjasama dalam menjayakan usaha menjadikan PRK Cameron Highlands sebagai pilihan raya terbersih dalam sejarah negara dengan mendedahkan setiap hari perbelanjaan pilihan raya dan menjemput SPR dan NGO untuk memantau aktiviti kempen?

Calon Barisan Nasional (BN) bagi Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Cameron Highlands, Ramli Mohd Nor semalam berkata, jika beliau menang PRK ini, ia bukan disebabkan oleh amalan rasuah.

Saya memuji dan menyambut baik kenyataan oleh calon BN berkenaan, kerana terdapat usaha terancang untuk mengalihkan perhatian terhadap punca sebenar mengapa Naib Presiden MIC, C. Sivaraajh diarahkan mengosongkan kerusi Parlimen Cameron Highlands yang dimenanginya pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke-14 (PRU14) pada 9 Mei 2018; sehingga membawa kepada berlakunya PRK di kawasan itu, serta penglibatan Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Jelai, Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail dalam kegiatan politik wang, membeli undi dan amalan rasuah semasa pilihan raya umum lalu, yang mana telah dibangkitkan oleh mahkamah pilihan raya, malah menyaksikan Wan Rodsy tidak berani untuk tampil menjadi saksi bagi menafikan dakwaan itu meskipun prosiding mahkamah pilihan raya ditangguhkan sebanyak tiga kali bagi memberi ruang untuk Wan Rosdy memberi keterangan.

Sebenarnya, kegiatan politik wang, membeli undi dan amalan rasuah pada PRU14 bukan hanya terhad berlaku di Cameron Highlands, sebaliknya berlaku dalam kebanyakan kempen BN.

Bezanya, Cameron Highlands mempunyai 12 “hero integriti” – sebelas orang daripadanya adalah Orang Asli – yang sanggup memberi keterangan di mahkamah mengenai kegiatan politik wang, membeli undi dan amalan rasuah yang dilakukan BN di Cameron Highlands pada PRU lepas!

Amat mengejutkan apabila Pakatan Harapan dan Warisan mampu memenangi PRU14 dan membentuk Kerajaan Persekutuan yang dipimpin oleh Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad walaupun pihak lawan terlibat dalam kegiatan politik wang, membeli undi dan amalan rasuah.

Jika pilihan raya di seluruh kawasan yang dipertandingkan dilaksanakan secara adil dan bersih pada pilihan raya umum lalu, BN tidak mungkin akan menang 79 kerusi Parlimen – 54 Parlimen dimenangi oleh UMNO (kini hanya tinggal 37 kerusi).

Antara cubaan untuk mengalihkan perhatian terhadap sebab mengapa PRK Cameron Highlands diadakan adalah dengan tuduhan terhadap DAP dan Pakatan Harapan kononnya terlibat dalam kegiatan membeli undi dalam PRK kali ini. Pemimpin BN cuba mencalarkan imej Pakatan Harapan dengan menyebarkan beberapa keping gambar di media sosial yang memaparkan beberapa individu yang memakai baju-T Pakatan Harapan Cameron Highlands menerima wang. Laporan polis telah dibuat oleh pihak BN atas dakwaan berlakunya kegiatan membeli undi.

Hakikatnya, ini adalah sebahagian daripada perbelanjaan Pakatan Harapan. Petugas kempen hanya membuat bayaran balik sebanyak RM20 setiap seorang kepada kira-kira 60 sukarelawan Orang Asli yang menaiki motosikal dari kawasan Jelai ke Tanah Rata pada hari penamaan calon, Ahad lalu.

Adakah Ramli bersedia untuk mendedahkan kepada umum jumlah yang telah dibelanjakan BN pada hari penamaan calon tersebut?

Saya yakin, apa yang belanjakan DAP dan Pakatan Harapan pada hari penamaan calon amat sedikit jika dibandingkan dengan BN.

BN turut mencipta helah untuk menutup kaitan peranan Wan Rodsy dalam kegiatan politik wang, membeli undi dan aman rasuah di Cameron Highlands pada PRU lalu.

Semua pihak yang berminat dengan isu ini perlu membaca penghakiman Hakim Mahkamah Pilihan Raya, Hakim Azizah Nawai di Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur pada 30 November 2018.

Jika Ramli sukar untuk mendapatkan salinan penghakiman tersebut, saya bersedia untuk memberikan beliau satu salinan.

Dalam Perenggan 26 hingga 33 penghakiman tersebut, Sivaraajh dan Wan Rosdy dikatakan tiba di Sekolah SK Sinderut di Pos Sinderut menaiki helikopter pada 30.4.2018 kira-kira jam 2 petang, Tok Batin diberitahu supaya “Harus ingat siapa pemimpin… dan mereka harus mengundi BN” dan Tok Batin yang hadir diberikan wang sebanyak RM200 setiap seorang sebagai “duit rokok”. Hakim Mahkamah Pilihan Raya mendapati hakikatnya wang sebanyak RM200 telah diberikan kepada Tok Batin telah bejaya dibuktikan.

Dari perenggan 34 hingga 41, Sivarrajh dan Wan Rosdy dikatakan menaiki helikopter untuk melawat Pos Lenjang pada 6.5.2018. Hakim mendapati Tok Batin telah diberikan wang sebanyak RM25,000 untuk diagihkan kepada semua pengundi di setiap kampung dan setiap Tok Batin telah menerima wang sebanyak RM200.

Dari perenggan 45 hingga 48, Hakim berpuas hati yang Sivarrajh dan Wan Rosdy pada hari yang sama turut bertemu Tok Batin di Kampung Tual, Janggap, Regang, Sinderut, Cempian, Kabang dan Belau. Mereka diberikan wang sebanyak RM300 setiap seorang.

Terdapat juga dakwaan yang Tok Batin diberikan wang dengan jumlah yang besar untuk diagihkan kepada penduduk Orang Asli bagi memujuk mereka mengundi BN.

Wan Rosdy benasib baik kerana tiada petisyen pilihan raya yang dikemukan di DUN Jelai yang dimenanginya, kerana sudah tentu kerusi tersebut akan diisytiharkan kosong dan beliau perlu meletak jawatan sebagai Menteri Besar Pahang.

Wan Rosdy melanggar akta pilihan raya pada PRU14 dan tidak harus terlibat dalam PRK Cameron Highlands.

Satu acara istimewa perlu diadakan bagi meraikan dan memberi penghormatan kepada Orang Asli yang menjadi saksi dalam petisyen pilihan raya Cameron Highlands, kerana mereka telah mecatatkan satu standard integriti dan kejujuran bukan sahaja di kalangan Orang Asli di Cameron Highlands, juga di kalangan rakyat Malaysia.

Adakah Ramli akan hadiri acara istimewa ini?

Saya berani kata, jika tidak berlaku kegiatan politik wang, membeli undi dan amalan rasuah, Pakatan Harapan mempunyai peluang yang cerah untuk menang PRK Cameron Highlands.

Ini sebab mengapa saya menyambut baik kenyataan Ramli dan menyeru beliau untuk sama-sama menjadikan PRK Cameron Highlands sebagai satu contoh untuk semua pilihan raya umum dan pilihan raya kecil akan datang, dengan mendedahkan perbelanjaan pilihan raya setiap hari kepada umum.

Terdapat 30 daerah pengundian di kawasan Parlimen Cameron Highlands, iaitu Pos Terisu, Pos Telanuk, Pos Lemoi, Pos Mensun, Lembah Bertam, Bandar Ringlet, Habu, Ladang Boh 1, Ladang Boh 2, Kea Farm, Tanah Rata, Berinchang, Ladang Sungai Palas, Ladang Blue Valley, Kampung Raja, Kuala Terla, Teringkap, Pos Lanai, Kuala Medang, Tanjung Gahai, Bukit Kota, Kampung Keledek, Lubuk Kulit, FELDA Sungai Koyan Satu, FELDA Sungai Koyan Dua & Tiga, Pos Betau, Pos Sinderut, Pos Lenjang, Pos Titum.

Adakah Ramli bersetuju dengan cadangan untuk calon BN dan PH mengemukakan laporan perbelanjaan pilihan raya bagi setiap daerah pengundian setiap hari?

Saya ingin mencadangkan lebih lagi: Jemput Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya dan wakil NGO, termasuk Bersih dan NGO pemantau pilihan raya lain, untuk memantau aktiviti kempen setiap calon pada setiap hari, dan wajibkan pusat operasi pilihan raya BN dan PH untuk menghantar jadual harian aktiviti mereka, bagi membolehkan NGO dan SPR membuat pantauan.

Dengan cara itu, termasuk menghantar setiap hari laporan perbelanjaan oleh setiap calon, saya yakin kita akan mencipta satu amalan pilihan raya yang bebas, bersih dan adil bukan sahaja di Malaysia, tetapi di seluruh dunia!

Adakah Ramli bersetuju dan akan memberikan maklum balas dalam beberapa jam akan datang dalam era di mana maklumat bergerak sepantas kelajuan cahaya?