KENINGAU:
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) will challenge the validity of the Barisan Nasional’s (BN) victories in all the State and parliamentary seats in the State through petition and justice in court. Its Vice President, Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, claimed that there were elements of offence committed under the Election Offences Act during the campaign period and on polling day. “PKR also reported to the Anti- Corruption Agency (ACA) four days ago on money politics claim and fault committed under the Election Offences Act,” he told reporters at his residence here after chairing the post-mortem meeting on the loss of all the PKR candidates contesting in the State and parliamentary constituencies in the State. Jeffrey urged the ACA to investigate the reports lodged by PKR under Section 10 of the Election Offences Act 1954. Jeffrey who lost in the Bingkor State seat and Keningau parliamentary seat, claimed that 30 voters who received money during the election had come forward to report to PKR. “I believe many involved do not dare to come forward to make report to us on this matter (money politics),” he said. Jeffrey also accused the BN candidates of misusing the Poor Student Trustee Fund Group (KWAPM) by distributing the assistance to school students in all areas during the campaign period. He said that such action had influenced the parents to vote for BN. “Ten of my polling agents in 10 polling stations in Bingkor constituency except the polling station at SM St Francis Xavier’s were not given Form 13 and 14 by the Election Commission (EC),” he said. He also claimed that a polling station, which was a secondary school here that was not listed in EC, was opened for voters to cast their votes. “I believe the polling station was not for the local voters but for foreigners to cast their votes,” he alleged. Jeffrey also disputed the use of postal votes which he claimed could be brought home and passed around. He said the postal Votes should be given on polling day and counted together with the normal votes. He also alleged that the EC had disallowed the re-counting of votes with a difference of less than four percent. “PKR will take legal action, including making petition and lodging report with the ACA, urging the agency to investigate the matter under Section 10 of the Election Offences Act,” he said. Jeffrey also urged the voters in all the election areas throughout the State who accepted money during the campaign and polling day to report to PKR so that action could be taken by bringing the matter to ACA and the court.
