KUCHING, Feb 24: Distributing beers with the Kenyalang logo and photographs of election candidates slipped in bags of rice and goodies during election campaigning to “buy” people’s hearts is immoral.
Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan said that such an unethical style of campaigning damages the dignity of the elective office.
“There were many instances of election misconducts committed during the election campaigning period and on election day, apart from harassments and threats against both supporters and candidates.
“Giving money, food and drinks to influence voters to vote for candidates was a common sight with bags of rice, sugar and salt meant as Covid-19 food baskets bore the names of political parties and photographs of candidates.
“While it may not seem like a form of bribery because the candidates did not directly ask voters who received these goodies to vote for them, but campaigning this way is a great embarrassment,” he said in a statement today.
Voon, who stood for Batu Lintang constituency in the 12th Sarawak Election, also claimed that there was a well known beer brand with the Kenyalang logo pasted on them being distributed to the rural people.
He urged for the election law and laws related to bribery and corruption to be amended to include jail terms and disqualification of candidates, ministers and elected representatives for misconducts and from holding elective office. — DayakDaily
