CAMERON HIGHLANDS: Pakatan Harapan’s handling of the cash handout issue in the Cameron Highlands by-election reeks of double standards, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (pic).

The MCA president said in the past, Pakatan would complain about cash distribution by opponent parties, and yet it chooses to brush this aside when it is committed by its own members.

“The incumbent MP (Datuk C. Sivarraajh) was disqualified because Pakatan complained about money politics.

“But their excuse is that they are paying volunteers.

When their opponents do it, they cry money politics,” Dr Wee told a press conference in Kampung Raja here.

Photographs of a woman wearing a Pakatan T-shirt handing out cash to party supporters have been making the rounds on social media.

Pakatan clarified that the handouts were to reimburse “petrol costs” incurred by volunteers, who travelled to Tanah Rata during nomination day on Saturday.

It also insisted that the handouts were done “in accordance to the law”.

Dr Wee also rebuked Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Eddin Syazlee Shith for saying the ministry would find out who made the photographs viral.

“What is important is to investigate if money was given to voters.

“The person who uploaded the photos online only matters if the news is fake.

“So are we not allowed to criticise the government now? Where is the media freedom you used to champion?” said Dr Wee.

He also urged the authorities to investigate the matter and call up those involved for questioning.

On the statement by Pakatan Senator Bob Manolan Mohamad that orang asli village chiefs must support the government, Dr Wee said the matter should be left to the voters to judge.

“Pakatan’s moral standards are totally different from what they used to champion in the past. Leave it to the people to gauge how they have changed.

“Last time, they were critical of the term ‘You help me, I help you’.

“Now, Pakatan is saying ‘If you don’t help me, I won’t help you.

“I will even sack you and take your salary away. Is this acceptable?” Dr Wee questioned.