PUTRAJAYA: The aid and incentives given to public and civil servants is not bribery because the federal government made the decision before parliament was dissolved earlier this month.
Deputy Solicitor General II, Datuk Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamza said the allocation was already "budgeted for", only that the announcement was made after the dissolution of Dewan Rakyat.
He said the launch of manifestos and promises made by all political parties when campaigning should not be misconstrued as vote-buying and thus are not offences under the Election Offences Act.
In 2009, the Federal Court made a decision that promises to bring development during the election campaign could not be avoided because "if no such promise was made, it will render the election meaningless."
"The Federal Court also ruled that it is not an act of bribery," he told a press conference Friday.
He was referring to media reports quoting the secretary-general of Transparency International Malaysia Josie M Fernandez that Barisan violated the Election Integrity Pledge signed on Feb 20.
The report listed examples such as the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on the expansion of the 1Malaysia Discount Card and construction of a RM400mil complex in Perak.
Tun Abdul Majid said the Attorney-General's Chamber had in the last 24 hours decided not to act on 38 cases relating to election offences due to the absence of suspects or witnesses.
Over the same period, 27 cases were directed for further investigation, including cases related to treason, arson, causing hurt, criminal intimidation, assembly without notice and so on. - Bernama
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