I THOUGHT that Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidates in the recent Negeri Sembilan (N9) state election campaigned on the basis of their past performance centred on accountability, responsibility and honesty.
However, the failure of some state assemblymen, including former executive councillors and constituency coordinators, to return the funds meant for their constituencies has raised troubling questions.
The assemblymen were asked to return RM174,000 each while the constituency coordinators for Labu and Paroi and the executive councillors (EXCO) were told to return RM150,000 each.
Interestingly, the funds allocated for the July to September term were disbursed to the representatives a day before dissolution of the state assembly on July 5.
Possible election fraud?
According to the office of Menteri Besar (MB) Datuk Ismail Lassim, some of them have returned the money, including the former MB himself, Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.
If the remaining individuals fail to return the money that was disbursed within 30 days, legal action might be filed against them.
Disbursements meant for the constituencies should not have been made in the first place knowing that the elections were around the corner.
Even if the funds were received, they should not have been spent or disbursed to the respective constituencies until the outcome of the elections.
The question is who was responsible for the disbursement of funds ahead of the expiry period of July-September 2026?
The argument by N9 DAP chairman J. Arul Kumar that the money has been spent for the constituencies is no argument at all.
In other words, were the funds spent as an inducement to influence voters in favour of the PH candidates?
MACC may have to step in
If this was the case, then funds spent before July 5 can be considered a bribe to voters to expect a favourable outcome.
Some state assemblymen – knowing that the funds spent were not proper – have decided to return them to the state coffers.
For those who are saying that they have spent the money on their constituencies, it is just too bad.
They have committed an illegal act of disbursing the funds ahead of time. This should not have been done in the first place.
(Highlight) The MACC is ready to investigate if there is evidence of misuse involving the RM180,000 allocation granted to each Pakatan Harapan state assemblyman prior to the dissolution of the Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly on June 5. – Bernamahttps://t.co/xRmJ4Q4BWZ
— The Edge Malaysia (@theedgemalaysia) September 2, 2026
Is spending constituency funds during the election period contrary to the rules and regulations of the Election Commission (EC)?
Shouldn’t the police, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the EC investigate the disbursement and spending of funds during the election period?
By the way, the graft buster has indicated that it will act on the matter if proven the disbursement was an abuse.
Isn’t the money spent on then PH constituencies during the N9 state election period a form of bribe to influence the outcome of the polls? – Sept 3, 2026
Former DAP stalwart and Penang deputy chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image credit: Utusan Malaysia
