RM100 to walk for 1Malaysia in Galas?

Residents and others in Kampung Baru Cina in Gua Musang  were reportedly paid RM100 and given a 1Malaysia t-shirt each to take part in a walk through the residential area yesterday afternoon.

A number of people wearing the white t-shirt - with the 1Malaysia logo on the back and front - have been spotted on and off in the constituency for several days.

However, scores flooded the area at 3pm yesterday, chanting "Satu Malaysia" as they walked in procession.

They also distributed goodie bags to residents, each of which contained several cans of condensed milk and a tin of Milo.

Residents were later feted to a dinner by the organisers of the walk. The group calls itself the ‘1Malaysia NGO’ and claims to be spreading the message of the government’s unity campaign, but denied that it is campaigning for any political party.

"Easily 1,000-2,000 people (turned up) to register (for the walk). Some were not even residents, but are foreigners. All the organiser asked for were the name and some details," said a resident who attended the dinner.

He joked that some residents took advantage of the high turnout to register twice or three times, since the officials could scarcely differentiate who had already done so.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok was the first to highlighted the matter via Twitter.

"Pulai NV folk told me MCA offers ppl 2wear ‘1Msia’ t-shirt RM100/day. No wonder many ppl wear d t-shirt, but some dare not look into our eyes," read her tweet.

PAS Supporters’ wing chairperson Hua Pang Chow, when contacted, confirmed this, saying that he had been informed of the matter by locals.

"In fact I encourage the residents to go there and get the money and goodies. The important thing is to still vote for PAS," he said.

‘No money paid’

Sia Teck Keong (left), the coordinator for the 1Malaysia NGO in Gua Musang, said when contacted that the group is only in Galas to promote the unity campaign.

He denied that those who took part in the walk had been paid although he admitted that they were given the t-shirts and were told to distribute goodie bags to residents.

"We are doing this all over Malaysia and it is only a coincidence that a by-election is taking place here. We are planning another walk at 11am (today in Pulai, another Chinese settlement in Galas)," he said.

Asked where the group had obtained the money to buy the goodies, he said it had been donated by business operators and traders who support the group’s cause.

However, a search by Malaysiakini has found that Sia is the deputy organising secretary in Selangor MCA Youth. He is also the party's Hulu Selangor division vice-chief.

When contacted today, he confirmed his posts but reiterated that the NGO has "no political background".

"No politician (was involved) in our event. Those wearing BN shirts were not allowed to join the (walk)," he said.