There was a small commotion at a hotel in Kuala Terengganu this evening following a rumour that a political party was distributing cash to voters in tomorrow's by-election.

kuala terengganu by election vote buying in hotel 160109 03 When Malaysiakini arrived at the scene around 5.30pm, scores of people were seen filling their names and identity card numbers on a blank piece of paper in the banquet hall.

The crowd of about 100 appeared uncomfortable at the sight of journalists taking photographs and started urging others to stop writing their particulars.

As more journalist streamed into the banquet hall, an unidentified man picked up some 10 sheets of papers containing the particulars and left the hall.

kuala terengganu by election vote buying in hotel 160109 02 "I will ask my boss if there is any more money for us," said the man, prompting the crowd to leave the hotel.

Most of those in the hall were elderly people who claimed that they had attended a buffet high-tea at 4pm.

Unlike most political events, there was no party logos or banners used to decorate the hall. There were conflicting claims as to who organised the event.

Among those who allegedly spoke to the crowd during the meal was a former menteri besar from a West coast state.

By the time the press arrived, the situation became chaotic with many complaining aloud that they had been cheated since no money was distributed.

Some also claimed that those who had come earlier were able to collect the money.

Journalists given money

In another development, RM300 cash was distributed to more than a dozen journalists at the state information department’s media centre in Kuala Terengganu.

kuala terengganu by election money given to media reporters at media centre 160109 Journalists were asked to list their names, the organisation they worked for and telephone numbers on a blank piece of paper by a media centre staff before being given a white envelope containing six RM50 notes.

Four Malaysiakini journalists wrote their details on the paper without knowing about the money.

The four later returned the envelopes with a total of RM1,200 to the media centre staff. Several other journalists have done the same.

The media centre staff could not answer when quizzed about the source of the money.

At 6pm, two journalists from Chinese-language online news Merdeka Review lodged a police report on the matter at the Terengganu police headquarters.

Information Ministry denies role

Meanwhile, according to a Bernama report later in the day, the Information Ministry denied making any payment to journalists covering the by-election.

Information Minister's press secretary Hisham Abdul Hamid said the ministry had never directed any of its officers to do such a thing.

"This has never been the practice of the Information Ministry," he told Bernama .

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