Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim today accused the government of vote-buying and coercion as campaigning for a critical weekend by-election intensified.The vote in Terengganu state, which pundits say is too close to call, is seen as a referendum on the coalition government's performance since a disastrous performance in general elections last year.
A Merdeka Centre poll released this week found Malay voters were split between the two sides, while minority ethnic Chinese - who may swing the result - were leaning slightly towards Pakatan Rakyat, the opposition alliance.
Anwar accused the ruling party Umno of buying votes for RM300-RM400 from Malays, whose support Umno can no longer take for granted after the shock general election results.
"I am concerned how the Malay voters will vote. The Malays here are poor, money is being thrown by Umno to fish for votes," he told AFP.
"They are threatening civil servants. They are saying - we know who you will vote for."
"Umno is really desperate, you can see by the tone of their campaign. It is shocking," he said after going on a walkabout in the state capital Kuala Terengganu, where the vacant electoral seat is located.
"I am confident that we will win, but I'm concerned about the onslaught by (the government) which is very strong."
'I want to win fair'
Umno candidate Wan Ahmad Farid rejected the allegations and said the opposition was making excuses to soften the blow of a defeat.
"I want to win fair and square. I want to win this election without any element of unhealthy practices," he told AFP.
"The opposition is trying to hype it up. They say there is going to be phantom voters, they will say Umno is using money to buy votes, they will make all kinds of allegations as to why they can't win this seat."
Security was tight ahead of Saturday's vote in the seaside state capital, with groups of police stationed at major junctions and riot squad officers patrolling the streets in jeeps.
The city was awash with posters, banners and photos of political leaders and candidates.
"With two days to go we are gearing up our campaign, and preparing for a showdown," said Mustapha Ali, state chief of the Islamic party PAS which is fielding the opposition's candidate for the vote, Mohamad Abdul Wahid Endut.
"The mood is good. We can feel the wind of change is blowing. But it is a neck-and-neck battle."
1 comment:
Undian bijak untuk PRK Parlimen P36 Kuala Terengganu, UMNO atau PAS ?
Sebelum mengundi sila fikirkan pandangan dan logika ini.
1. Semenjak PR memenangi kerusi Permatang Pauh, banyak faedah yang diperolehi oleh rakyat Malaysia. Harga minyak telah turun. Kerajaan mula menampakkan minat untuk mengurangkan bebenan rakyat.
2. Akhirnya Terengganu seperti dianak emaskan. Royalti ingin dikembalikan (secara dasanya sahaja ?). Kedengaran Terengganu akan kaya kembali (rakyat sekali ke ?).
3. Berikutan kekuatan PR yang bertambah, kerajaan seolah mula mengambil hati rakyat.
Maka dengan itu, jika pengundi P 36 bijak, tuan-tuan dan puan-puan seharusnya sedar kepada siapa undi harus diberikan nanti. Pendapat saya, semakin kuat PR maka semakin banyak bebanan rakyat akan diturunkan.
Jika rakyat Terengganu tidak membenamkan rasa bimbang pada kerajaan BN maka kita seolah-olah puas dengan beberapa “ole-ole” dari BN. Kalau kita jual murah jangan terperanjat jika kita hanya mendapat habuan yang murah-murah sahaja.
Jika PR bertambah satu lagi kerusi di Parlimen maka perdebatan menjadi lebih hebat dan memberi manafaaat kepada kita semua. Ingat ! Semakin kurang jurang perbezaan ahli Parlimen semakin berkualiti kerja-kerja ahli-ahli Parlimen baik PR atau BN.
Ayuh semua ! Terutama penyokong BN dan mereka yang di atas pagar. Berikan kemenangan pada PAS dan tunggu, akan ada lebih banyak tawaran istimewa daripada kerajaan BN untuk memperkukuhkan kuasanya. ! Insya-Allah !!!
Nota : Bebas diedit, diulangsiar dan forward serta diubah nama penulisnya. Sila forwardkan kepda semua.
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