September 08, 2017
Beat up to bring Party down
Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox says questions over a candidate allegedly offering online cash credits for votes is a beat up.
The Electoral Commission is investigating claims Botany candidate Wetex Kang offered hong bao dollars or online money envelopes on the WeChat application.
Hong bao refers to a Chinese custom of gifting money in a red envelope on special occasions.
It's illegal to offer money or other so called treats for votes.
Ms Fox says the Malaysian Chinese beekeeper's actions have been maliciously misinterpreted.
"What he did was offer to donate his wages to charity so someone made a complaint to the Electoral Commission, said it was bribing the audience to get his vote, which is ridiculous. The Electoral Commission has looked into it and cleared him. That is just a beat up by someone trying to take the party down," she says.
An Electoral Commission spokesperson says the Commission is looking into the complaints, and has sought further information from Mr Kang.
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