Thursday, January 22, 2009

Pakatan duo lodge report over KT ‘corrupt acts’

Taken from Malaysiakini 22.1.2009

Two Pakatan Rakyat MPs have lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over alleged corrupt practices by Barisan Nasional during the Kuala Terengganu by-election. The report was lodged by Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut) and Loh Gwo Burne (PKR-Kelana Jaya) at the Federal Territories MACC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today. Their report was received by Federal Territorities MACC director Azni Hamzah.

In their report, the duo cited four instances of alleged corrupt practices and attached four newspaper clippings to support their claims. The four articles touched on:
(1) RM1 million fund for fishermen.
(2) RM23.8 million allocation for SJK (C) Chee Wen.
(3) RM15.8 million projects for Class F contractors.
(4) RM300 each for journalists covering the by-election.

Speaking to reporters later, Loh said the funding announced during the by-election appeared to be a method used to fish for votes using the government machinery. “The government and Barisan can say the funds were already approved. Our question is, why wait until the by-election to make the announcements?” he said. Loh said he hopes that the MACC would conduct public awareness campaigns in order to educate the public on what constitutes as corruption in order to discourage such practices during elections. Lim said that this report should be treated as a test case for the newly formed MACC as the anti-corruption watchdog has more power now since it is a full-fledged commission.

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