KUALA KUBU BAHARU – Any probe into allegations of bribery involving Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming will be investigated by other relevant authorities, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) but not the Election Commission (EC).
As an independent body, the EC does not engage in investigations related to alleged acts of corruption, its secretary, Datuk Ikmalrudin Ishak, said.
“Any matters pertaining to (corruption) offences, we leave it to the police or other authorities, such as the MACC, to investigate.
“The EC does not conduct investigations as an independent body. EC only investigates election-related offences that fall under the jurisdiction of the Election Offences Act 1954. (Nga’s case) is up to the relevant authorities,” he told reporters.
Nga was accused of vote-buying after announcing a RM5.21 million allocation to Hulu Selangor Municipal Council last month to improve public infrastructure, including Kuala Kubu Baharu.
He said this amid the early preparations for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election polling day, set for tomorrow, at the Kuala Kubu Baharu multipurpose hall and sports complex.
On May 7, then-EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh, who recently retired, said any decision to summon Nga is up to his successor.
While announcing the RM5.21 million allocation for Hulu Selangor, Nga said it was because the location had “good feng shui” and was unrelated to the by-election.
His announcement was met with criticism from various quarters, including non-governmental organisations such as Bersih and Engage, as well as political leaders such as MCA’s Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker and Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau.
In response, Nga defended his statement while also drawing attention to the opposition’s lack of achievements. He also said the “feng shui” comment was “just a harmless joke”. – May 10, 2024