GIVING money to voters to travel home to vote does not tantamount to a bribe as it does not influence the receiver’s vote, said Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Paul Low.

“Does that influence someone to vote for a particular party? It doesn’t. He or she is not obliged to vote for those who gave them the allowance, “said Low.

To show corruption, the enticement to vote must be proven, said Low, who oversees transparency and corruption issues in the government.

“If enticement to vote is not proven, it cannot amount to bribery,” said Low on the sidelines of the conference on Democracy in Southeast Asia organised by Suhakam and the Kofi Annan Foundation.

Low was commenting on Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Deputy Chief (operations) Azam Baki’s statement today.

Azam said offering an inducement to voters in the form of cash or gifts is bribery.

He, however, said genuine aid like rice or other forms of donation does not constitute bribery.

Election pledges are also not considered bribery, he added. –September 2, 2017.