PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court’s decision to uphold PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s electoral victory in Marang shows that donations by the public are allowed during elections, says party secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan.
Takiyuddin said there is no stopping anyone, in this case the Terengganu government, from giving donations.
“Although the other side claimed that the state government breached the rules, the court has confirmed that nothing bars anyone, including the public, from giving donations during an election.
“The law confirmed what was said by the president (Hadi),” he said when met after the court’s decision on the appeal on Hadi.
During the proceedings, the apex court dismissed the appeal by a Barisan Nasional candidate to cancel Hadi’s victory over the claim that he bribed voters during his 15th general election campaign.
The three-bench panel led by Court of Appeal president Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim said Jasmira Othman had failed to prove his case beyond a reasonable doubt.
On Jan 21, Hadi reportedly said that the cash donation during the election campaign did not break the rules as it was just a donation by a member of the public to voters.
He said the existing rules only prohibited the candidates and their representatives from handing out cash to voters.
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