KUALA LUMPUR: PKR candidate for Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat, M. Manogaran, yesterday filed an election petition over claims that Tok Batin (Orang Asli chiefs) there were bribed with duit rokok (cigarette money).
Manogaran, 59, filed the application at the High Court registration counter through legal firm Messrs Kumar Associates, naming Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate, C. Sivaraj, 42, as respondent.
The petition was filed to challenge the 14th General Elections (GE14) result for the constituency which saw Sivaraj emerged victorious in the five-corner fight with a majority of 597 votes.
Manogaran in the application claimed that Sivaraj, along with Jelai assemblyman, Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, who was later sworn in as Menteri Besar Pahang, had carried out election campaign together.
He said Wan Rosdy had introduced Sivaraj to the Orang Asli voters, whom he said were not keen on trusting outsiders.
Manogaran, as the petitioner, said Orang Asli people, who live in nine posts and several villages in Cameron Highlands, made up about 20 per cent of the voters in the constituency.
He said the Orang Asli voters were easily influenced and were under the domination of the respondent as a BN candidate.
Manogaran claimed he had carried out various activities in Cameron Highlands since five years ago and that the community had assured that their votes would go to PKR should he contest there.
However, he claimed that there was swing of votes among the Orang Asli constituents as a result of the respondent’s corrupt practices.
He claimed both the respondent and Wan Rosdy had colluded to persuade the Tok Batin and gave out bribes between RM30 and RM1,000 to ensure that the voters would support BN in GE14.
Wan Rosdy was alleged to have given RM200 cash as ‘duit rokok’ to Tok Batin who were present.
The menteri besar was claimed to have bribed them with musical instruments and threatened to stop government aid given to the Orang Asli people.
Manogaran said Sivaraj’s actions were in violation of Section 9 (1) of the Election Offences Act 1954 and was seeking a declaration that his win was null and void.
He also seek for court order or other relief deemed necessary with cost.