BINTULU, Oct 25 — Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party (Aspirasi) candidate Chieng Lea Phing today stopped distributing free 5kg packs of white rice pending further instructions and action from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

The 62-year-old businessman said he did so after news reports saying MACC would investigate him for giving free rice to the people, which he had done for the past four days.

"When I heard the news, I had to stop first and be ready to give my explanation. For the time being, we are not giving any more free rice to our members.

"I understood from the news report that the MACC task force here will follow-up the case.

"But they haven’t called for me or asked for my statement yet, so I’m just waiting for their questioning,” he said when contacted.

Yesterday, Berita Harian quoted MACC Sarawak director Datuk Mohd Zaki Hassan as saying a special task force here had been ordered to investigate the matter to see if there were elements of corruption in the distribution of the rice.

According to Chieng, his pawnshop initiated the distribution of free rice to all customers, including those in Jepak.

"Anyone who has pawned gold in my shop, which means they are desperate for cash and in financial difficulties, can come and collect free rice.

"I arranged this free rice distribution to help them, they are very happy. But now when they heard that the MACC is trying to investigate, I stopped all this distribution, so they feel unhappy about it.

"I’m willing to cooperate, but I don’t know when they will ask for my statement, so I’m just waiting for now,” he said.

Chieng faces a three-cornered fight in the Jepak by-election against Iskandar Turkee of Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Stevenson Joseph Sumbang of Parti Bumi Kenyalang.

The Election Commission has set October 31 for early voting and November 4 for polling day.

The Jepak constituency has 22,804 registered voters. — Borneo Post