KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has identified 90 people who allegedly received cash in Terengganu to vote for a particular political party in the 15th General Election.

Its chief commissioner, Tan Sri Azam Baki, when confirming this in a brief statement today, said the commission was urging the 90 individuals to come forward.

He also said that these 90 people did not necessarily reside in Terengganu.

"MACC has identified 90 individuals who are alleged to have received cash in Terengganu to vote for a political party in GE15.

"The MACC investigation team will need some time to find them because not all of them reside in Terengganu. The individuals involved in the cash handout issue are requested to come forward and go to he nearest MACC office," he said in the statement.

Pas has previously come under fire after video clips, allegedly showing party leaders handing out cash to voters, went viral.

However, party president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang had responded to it by saying that those caught on video handing out money to voters in three Terengganu constituencies during GE15 were just ordinary people who were doing it in the name of charity.

Terengganu Umno had filed petitions to cancel the GE15 results for the Kuala Terengganu, Marang and Kemaman parliamentary seats. The petitions were filed at the Kuala Terengganu High Court on Jan 3 and were done according to the Election Offences Act 1954.

Last month, Azam confirmed that the commission had opened investigation papers on the claims of cash handouts in Terengganu during the general election campaign period.

"It does not matter if they use terms like sedekah (charity). It is still corruption as defined under Section 10 of the Election Offences Act 1954.

"We have opened a few investigation papers after receiving complaints during and after the election, and we will investigate every case that was referred to us," Azam had previously told the New Straits Times.

Under the Elections Offences Act, bribery is deemed to have occurred when candidates or any individuals buy votes, either directly or indirectly, by giving or offering money, gifts, jobs or loans during or after the election.

Anyone found guilty can be jailed for a maximum of two years, fined between RM1,000 and RM5,000, and jailed up to a year.

Candidates can also be disqualified as elected representatives and also lose the right to contest in an election for five years if they are found guilty of committing the offence.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2023/02/875878/macc-90-people-identified-ge15-cash-handout-terengganu