By Nigel Edgar
KUCHING, Nov 12: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Betong Division chief Vernon Kedit claimed today to have “explosive and shocking” evidence to prove that there was vote-buying in the Julau party election on Saturday (Nov 10).
Speaking to reporters at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Kuching headquarters this morning, he said all the evidence was saved in a USB thumb drive and would be handed over to the MACC.
This is the second report to be lodged by Vernon with the MACC regarding the matter. The first was lodged on Oct 25 after discovering irregularities in the Julau party membership, which skyrocketed from 603 to 13,000 within a few days.
Vernon narrated that on Nov 10, about a 1,000 ‘party members’ of the PKR Julau division went to the polls.
“As we have alleged previously, many of these members were dubiously registered. Multiple police reports were lodged by members, who stated that they were registered without their knowledge or consent. Various independent analysts have provided corroborating facts to validate our allegations. Yet, no action was taken by the party’s governing body to remedy the situation. Instead, no foul play or fraud was the finding of the party’s secretariat.
“Nevertheless, we now have incontrovertible evidence that vote-buying occurred on that day in Julau, adding to the mountain of evidence already available that fraud and various criminality have taken place,” he said.
Vernon added: “In this tiny thumb drive is explosive and shocking evidence that blatant and unbridled corruption occurred rampantly in Julau on Nov 10, 2018. The details are sickening and the modus operandi disgusting, to say the least.”
He thanked the “brave Julau people” for coming forward to provide the evidence, which Vernon said was abhorrent to the rule of law and an outright mockery of what PKR stands for.
“Therefore, I am here this morning to lodge a second report with the MACC and hand over this new evidence, which is the logical culmination of the carefully engineered and orchestrated scheme to intentionally manipulate our party’s election process and outcome,” said Vernon.
Asked on details of the evidence, he said since the investigation was still ongoing, he could not provide nor divulge any further details other than those already mentioned.
“The damning evidence speaks for itself, and we leave it to the MACC to take appropriate action.
“Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) stands for justice, and I stand here with my colleagues this morning to serve only one purpose — that justice is not only served but seen to be served, and served swiftly. We will not tolerate anything less,” Vernon emphasised. — DayakDaily
