THE PKR Youth leader who lodged a graft report against a minister’s political secretary for alleged bribery in the ongoing party elections must not exploit it for his own end, the party said.

Youth secretary Syukri Ab Razab, who lodged the report today with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), will have to bear the consequences if the allegations are defamatory, said Hilman Idham.

“Everyone has the right to report anything, if there is a solid proof, and I think anyone has the right to file a report with the MACC or the police, but don’t use it for the party elections,” said Hilman, political secretary to Economic Affairs Minister and PKR deputy president Azmin Ali.

Syukri is running for the post of vice-president in the Youth wing.

He alleged today that a political secretary of a minister involved in infrastructure and development offered a RM20,000 contract and other projects to be distributed among party leaders in Pahang, from where he comes.

The political secretary, Syukri said, is running for a seat on the PKR central leadership committee and for the branch chief post in his area.

Hilman said many police reports have been lodged against PKR leaders, such as his boss Azmin, but they were defamatory.

“It ends up with MACC saying there is no case and we knew it was a defamatory. But those who lodged the report never apologised to anyone,” said Hilman.

The political secretary of another PKR minister, Baru Bian, said such reports were common during party elections.

“This is the election season, so many things happen,” said Baru’s political secretary Zakaria Ab Hamid who is contesting a national central leadership post.

He supported the investigation though, as any wrongdoing should be uncovered and brought to justice. 

Hizwan Ahmad, political secretary to Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin, denied being the person and refused to comment.

“It’s not me, I do not want to comment,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Syukri reported the person for allegedly offering the bribes at a meeting on September 1.

PKR is in the midst of holding party elections and this is not the first allegation of attempted bribery in the polls.

Last week, two PKR division chiefs in Kedah, who were also election committee members, were remanded for allegedly soliciting a RM20,000 bribe from a candidate. – September 25, 2018.