PETALING JAYA, Sept 19 — Two Orang Asli today alleged that a senior MIC leader and an Umno state assemblyman had bribed them and threatened to withhold federal aid if they did not vote Barisan Nasional (BN) during Election 2013, the Bersih People’s Tribunal heard today.
Norman Kong, 32, from Kampung Pos Senderut told the tribunal that the MIC leader who was contesting for a federal seat in Pahang promised to build roads and houses, but only if the villagers voted for BN; he later added that the promises were not kept.
“He also paid us RM20 with an additional promise of RM80 for each voter if we voted for BN.
“We received RM20 but did not get the remaining RM80,” he said through a translator.
Norman alleged the candidate also warned that healthcare and education would no longer be free if BN loses in the election.
“The promises were made when he was campaigning after he got down from the helicopter at a school, he promised that if we support BN and don’t vote for Pakatan or DAP, we will [get] all sorts of aid.”
Norman claimed that the Umno candidate for a state seat also promised rice, beef and chicken.
“In the end, nothing reached us, we never got a taste of it, just the smell,” he said.
Norman added that the candidate for the federal seat promised that if BN wins, the Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (BR1M) cash aid will increase from RM500 to RM1,200.
“Actually before I voted, I discussed with my fellow villagers, I said since we’ve already a few times for BN and nothing has changed, I don’t see the point.
“After I said that, my neighbour labelled me as an opposition man, I got worried, my family was scared to vote other parties after that,” he said.
He also claimed that the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) had called for a meeting with the village chiefs in Kuantan prior to the election and “brainwashed” them.
“The village chiefs are illiterate, so the department told them that when they go return to the village, ask the rest of the villagers to vote for BN, and don’t vote for other parties,” he said, adding that there are about 300 people in his village.
Meanwhile, Zainal Kaptar, 32 from Kampung Janggap, shared the same testimony as Norman, which included the promises of cash and basic infrastructure from the two BN candidates.
He said his village chief had said that the Umno candidate for the state seat there had given the villagers money to vote for BN but those who don’t vote for them will not receive any aid.
“I took the money, and I admit it,” he said of the RM20, which was earlier mentioned by Norman.
He said the Umno man also promised to repair the road to his village, which he said is extremely important, especially for the children who have to walk for two hours to get to school.
There are about 200 people living at the village including children, he said.
Both men had won their respective seats.
The ongoing People’s Tribunal has no legal powers to enforce its recommendations, but has the “moral authority” to be accepted by Putrajaya, according to Bersih.
The five-member Tribunal is led by Yash Pal Ghai, a former United Nations Special Representatice and constitutional law expert.
The citizen’s initiative will continue to have witnesses testify on irregularities of the 13th general election, until Sunday.
