PETALING JAYA: Perikatan Nasional has been challenged to produce the evidence to support its claim that it did not bribe voters in the 15th General Election (GE15).
Umno information chief Isham Jalil said Perikatan secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin must show the solid proof that he claimed to have so that people can judge for themselves.
“Can you tell us what Perikatan’s intention was in giving money to voters during the election, Hamzah?
“And you said you have strong evidence that Perikatan supposedly did not bribe voters during the last election.
“If it is true, show the solid evidence so that the people can judge and to avoid slander if you’re speaking the truth,” said Isham in a statement on Sunday (Jan 22).
Isham said Hamzah should also clear the air about the various viral videos and police reports made about Perikatan purportedly giving money to voters and asking them to swear in the name of God to vote for PAS.
“Using God’s name to bribe voters is something despicable.
“And then cheating to cover up the corrupt practice is not a good strategy, it is like digging a deeper hole to plant yourself,” said Isham.
He also urged Perikatan to repent, saying that using religion to legitimise an illegal act is wrong.
“What is illegal remains illegal. God knows best what you and your friends do. Repent,” he said.
Earlier, Hamzah said Perikatan was prepared to prove the bribery allegations were untrue.
He said the coalition’s defence team was prepared to prove the election petition filed by Terengganu Umno was untrue.
Terengganu Umno had earlier this month filed a petition to annul the results for the Kuala Terengganu, Marang and Kemaman parliamentary seats in GE15 which were all won by PAS, a Perikatan component party.
Terengganu Umno liaison chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Said said among the matters raised in the petition were allegations that PAS had bribed voters by distributing financial aid from the state government from Nov 15 to 17, 2022 a few days before GE15, through the i-Pension, i-Belia and i-Student initiatives.