IMAGES of money being given by Pakatan Harapan party workers in Cameron Highlands are of petrol reimbursements given to volunteers on nomination day, said the pact’s Jelai operations centre deputy chief Arvind Bharet.

He said the volunteers had used their own motorcycles to travel from the interior to Tanah Rata yesterday.

Arvind was responding to reports that included photographs on social media showing PH party workers paying a group of people.

Barisan Nasional members and online commentators claimed this was evidence of PH buying votes in Cameron Highlands.

Arvind, however, said the fuel reimbursement would be declared as part of election expenses by the pact’s by-election candidate, M. Manogaran.

“Everything is done according to the law. We believe in a clean and transparent election,” he said in a statement.

Earlier today, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission said it was investigating the allegation of vote-buying.

Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Eddin Syazlee Shith said the MCMC needed time to identify the persons behind the social media accounts that posted the viral photographs.

“Right now, I cannot verify the allegations. Give us some time to secure accurate information and we will explain what actually happened. We can then confirm whether it (vote-buying) actually took place or certain quarters are merely pointing fingers,” he said after a visit to the PH operations room at Felda Sg Koyan 3 today.

Photographs showing several people wearing shirts bearing the PH logo and allegedly distributing money to Cameron Highlands constituents went viral on social media early today.

Voters in Cameron Highlands go to the polls on January 26 for a by-election called after the election court annulled the 14th general election results over corruption and vote-buying practised by the winning candidate, C. Sivarraajh of BN/MIC.

Earlier today, Manogaran said DAP would investigate if cash handouts were given to the Orang Asli youngsters after the nomination process.

“I was not there, and found out about it this morning. We will investigate and make a proper response later. I need to find out what actually happened,” he said after visiting an Orang Asli village in Kampung Sg Relong in Menson.

He, however, said he did not arrange for any supporters to be paid to come out on nomination day.

“I did not arrange such a thing. I do not know how it happened and if it did.

“I need to check on the details of what had transpired. After nomination, I went off to Koyan so I don’t know,” he said. – January 13, 2019.