'DAP killed firefighter': Camerons campaign takes a nasty turn

CAMERON HIGHLANDS: DAP “killed” the late firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, claimed a poster making the rounds on social media, as campaigning in the constituency goes into its last two days before the parliamentary by-election takes place.

Pakatan Harapan candidate M. Manogaran, from the coalition’s component party DAP, showed members of the press pictures of the smear poster during a press conference at Taman Sedia.

The poster juxtaposed Manogaran’s photo with that of Muhammad Adib’s, while the word “Hindu” and “Draf” were positioned underneath “DAP”, along with the words “Bunuh Adib” dripping with blood.

Manogaran said the poster was an offence under Section 9 of the Election Offences Act, because it used religion to insult or falsely accuse a candidate. He called for the Election Commission to take appropriate action.

“This is a by-election we promised to carry out cleanly ... After the by-election, if the false accusations do not stop, I will take other action under the available laws,” Manogaran said.

However, the former Teluk Intan MP said he had not made a police report regarding the matter.

The Pakatan candidate said he and his party had been the target of unrelenting false accusations of a racial and religious nature by Barisan Nasional, and called on Barisan candidate Ramli to make a stand on whether he supported the false racial and religious accusations.

"I see the statements are also issued by the Pahang Mentri Besar, not by the candidate. Who is actually contesting?" Manogaran asked.

Muhammad Adib was critically injured during a riot at the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Devasthanam temple in Selangor late November last year. He passed away after fighting for his life for nearly a month, and was hailed as a hero and icon by many.