PKR claims candidates bribed with million ringgit bounty to pull out

KUCHING, Wed:

Parti Keadilan Rakyat said today it would lodge a report with the Anti-Corruption Agency over alleged attempts to buy off their candidates and independents aligned to the party.

Sarawak PKR chief Dominique Ng claimed that PKR candidates Rahmat Idil (Santubong), Hussain Abang Apok (Kota Samarahan), Piee Ling (Batang Sadong), Labang Jamba (Julau) and Japar Suyut (Lawas) were aggressively pursued and offered a buy-out .

Ng claimed there were also attempts to buy out two independent candidates, Cobbold John Lusoi (Sri Aman ) and Nicholas Bawin Anggat (Lubok Antu). The buy out offer ranged from RM300,000 to RM1.5 million, Ng claimed.

PKR and the Independents are in a straight fight with the Barisan Nasional in all the seats Ng mentioned during a Press conference.

Rahmat, who was present, said a few hours before the press conference, an anonymous caller offered him RM300,000 to withdraw his candidacy.

"They have been pursuing me since last night (Tuesday night)," Rahmat, who is challenging the BN incumbent, PBB's Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, claimed.

PKR candidate for Batang Sadong Piee Ling claimed he was offered an astonishing RM1.5 million to pull out.

"That was yesterday (Tuesday) and I believe the amount being offered would go up as (the) midnight (deadline for withdrawal) approaches," he added.

Piee is facing BN newcomer Nancy Shukri in the coastal seat in Sri Aman Division.

In an immediate response, State Barisan Nasional secretary-general Dr Stephen Rundie dismissed the claims as "lies and wild allegations."

"The BN will never buy the Opposition candidates to withdraw," he said. "Why should we? They want to fight us, we will fight them to the end." 

Dr Rundie, who is also the Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) secretary-general, dismissed Ng as "bankrupt of political capital for making the allegations."

"He is out to tarnish our image to gain voter symphaty," he said.