THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating the alleged abuse of government vehicles for Pakatan Harapan’s campaign in the Cameron Highlands by-election.

Perak MACC chief Zainul Darus confirmed this today, adding that the commission has received seven reports on electoral offences in Cameron Highlands.

The reports included for dinner events and contributions given to entice voters.

“We have also received a report about state vehicles being used for campaign purposes. In fact, the state government (Pahang) has taken back the vehicles.

“We are investigating all the information given,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Perak MACC is investigating reports of corruption in the campaign for the Cameron Highlands by-elections, which is on January 26.

Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar has ordered an investigation into the alleged abuse of government vehicles for PH’s campaign.

“I have asked the ministry’s secretary-general to investigate the claim. I have also asked the Pahang Forestry Department director to prepare a report on the matter.

“Let the investigation take place. It won’t take long as it is a simple matter,” he told journalists after visiting a water treatment plant in Kuala Lumpur today.

Jayakumar’s deputy, Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puri, has been accused of instructing the Pahang Forestry Department to furnish five four-wheel drive vehicles for his official use for Orang Asli programmes.

In another development, a Pahang forestry department officer said he was asked by a deputy minister to hand over the keys to a department vehicle.

In a police report filed in Raub, Pahang, the officer said he was in charge of the 4WD vehicle.

“I had said that the vehicle belongs to the Pahang Forestry Department, but the deputy minister asked for the keys and handed it to his assistant to take traditional music instruments to a neighbouring village less than 1km away.

“After driving it for an hour, the assistant handed back the keys to me and told me that the vehicle had been stopped by Barisan Nasional supporters,” he said in the report.

Previously, Pahang state secretary Sallehuddin Ishak had instructed for the vehicles to be returned after one was discovered with PH flags.

BN’s Cameron Highlands candidate Ramli Mohd Noor has lodged a police report over the incident.

Ramli will be facing PH’s M. Manogaran in a four-cornered fight. The other two are independent candidates Wong Seng Yee and Sallehudin Ab Talib. – January 23, 2019.