Friday May 10, 2013

GE13: Authority denies foreigners were brought in to vote

By FLORENCE A.SAMY
florenceasamy@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: The Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) has strongly denied claims that the foreign workers it brought in were phantom voters.

Risda chairman Tan Sri Rahim Tamby Chik said the 38 Nepali workers who arrived at the KL International Airport at 10.50pm on May 2 were sent to six of their farms.

“They were brought in by Risda's National Rubber Smallholders Cooperative (Narsco) to work in the farms.

“We strongly deny accusations that Risda is involved in the transporting of phantom voters with our vehicles as aired in a YouTube video, social media and certain dailies on May 5,” he told a press conference here after Risda's monthly gathering yesterday.

Rahim explained that the workers who were ferried in vehicles bearing the Risda logo, exited KLIA at 1.35am only to be “ambushed” by a group of people who started taking their pictures.

“They were about to enter the vehicle when the group who claimed to be from a non-governmental organisation started recording and taking their pictures.

“A verbal argument then ensued between the Narsco officer and the group as he was wondering why these people were taking pictures of his workers and the vehicle,” he said.

He added that the officer immediately lodged a police report at KLIA.

Rahim urged the police to act sternly against the perpetrators whose action, he said, had damaged Risda's reputation both locally and overseas.

Rahim claimed the perpetrators were out to stir anger and bring disrepute to the election process.

On purported attacks against him, Rahim said he would not hesitate to take action and would not spare those who have tried to smear his name.

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Friday May 10, 2013

GE13: Authority denies foreigners were brought in to vote

By FLORENCE A.SAMY florenceasamy@thestar.com.my

By FLORENCE A.SAMY
florenceasamy@thestar.com.my