Terengganu Pas Youth lodges complaint to MACC over Zahid's 'vote-buying' speech

KUALA TERENGGANU - Terengganu Pas Youth has lodged a report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on allegations of corruption-laden speech made by the Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The report was made at the Terengganu MACC office about 12pm and ended approximately two hours later.

The Youth Chief Mohd Harun Esa claimed that the content of Zahid's speech at an event, which promised various allocations, contained elements of bribery targeting the young voters.

"In his speech, he mentioned that as long as on Aug 12, the youth 'vote for the 'Blue Wave' (BN) and 'Red Wave' (PH) in Terengganu.

"For us, it is a statement believed to contain elements of vote-buying," he said when met by reporters here on Sunday.

Mohd Harun emphasised that an investigation should be carried out even though the MACC has issued a statement saying that government incentive announcements are not categorised as bribery.

"For us, it still needs to be investigated based on the slogans 'Blue Wave' and 'Red Wave', especially with the additional bribery statement if PH and BN are chosen on Aug12.

"We do not object to the aid announced, but it is somewhat strange because it was given just before the election and after the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN)," he said.

He further expressed their dissatisfaction as the aid provided by the Terengganu government during the previous general election (GE15) was allegedly accused of being election bribery.

"The aid given by the state government previously was falsely accused of election bribery, even though it was announced much earlier than that (GE15).

"Therefore, we urge the authorities to conduct a transparent investigation into this matter," he added.

Last Friday, Zahid, in his speech at the opening ceremony of the Sustainable Youth Gathering (LesGU) in conjunction with the Sentuhan Kasih Desa programme in Bandar Al Muktafi Billah Shah, Dungun, announced various allocations for the youth.

An additional grant allocation of RM100,000 was announced for the Central Terengganu Development Youth Association (Ketengah), RM250,000 for the Terengganu State Youth Council, and RM200,000 for the motorcycle team.

However, Azam stated that the grant allocation is not considered a form of bribery; instead, the agency views it as a legitimate provision from the federal ministry.