KUALA LUMPUR – Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming is hoping that allegations accusing him of vote-buying during the recent Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election will no longer be an issue.
Implying that the matter should be put to rest, Nga, who is also a DAP vice-chairman, stressed that his announcement of a RM5.21 million allocation for Hulu Selangor residents was not part of the party’s campaign.
“I have answered this question before, and I don’t want to repeat myself,” Nga told reporters after attending the pre-launch of Madani Credit Award 2024 here today.
“I announced the allocation even before candidate nomination day. At that time, I didn’t even know who the candidates were going to be.”
Nga said this when asked whether the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had informed him or requested his assistance in any investigation regarding the claims against him.
“The allocation from the ministry is a long-standing initiative. A few days ago, I was in Melaka, and they were still provided funds even though there’s no state (poll) or by-election there now.
“My announcement did not go against any laws or the Elections Act 1958,” Nga added.
When questioned again about whether the anti-graft agency had contacted him, Nga seemed to evade the question, choosing instead to pledge cooperation with any government agency.
“This is a government that upholds the Rukun Negara, including the sovereignty of our laws. I’m ready to work with any party; (what matters) is that we make sure anything is by the law.”
On May 7, MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki said the agency was not investigating allegations of bribery involving Nga as it had not received any reports on the matter.
However, Azam said the commission’s complaint centre would “look into” the allegation detailed in media reports to determine its next course of action.
Nga was accused by several quarters, including opposition Perikatan Nasional and electoral watchdog Bersih, of vote-buying after he announced the RM5.21 million allocation for Hulu Selangor Municipal Council last month to improve public infrastructure, which included Kuala Kubu Baharu.
The Kuala Kubu Baharu state seat under the Hulu Selangor parliamentary constituency was won by DAP candidate Pang Sock Tao, who is also Nga’s former press secretary.
Pang won the May 11 by-election with a majority of 3,869 votes, defeating Bersatu’s Khairul Azhari Saut, Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s Hafizah Zainudin and independent candidate Nyau Ke Xin. – May 24, 2024
