EC really, really need to be ‘BERSIHkan’ (cleaned)!!

 

cloned voters, phantom voters, permanent voters, immigrant voters, voters with no mykad code, sudden increasing voters, a voter named 'kg baru', citizenship for votes, army personnel forced to multiple voting…. what-have-you – that's our election commission (EC) for you. malaysia boleh! oh with the blessing of BN of course.

all these had been revealed in malaysiakini a lot lately. discrepancies here and there in the electoral roll and so on, mostly unearthed by the opposition. reading all these made me very angry. so this is WHY/HOW BN can win!!  this is why we need berish 3.0 if nothing will be done to address them. though there is a mention of setting up of a parliamentary select committee on electoral reform, i'm not convinced. 

i would like to highlight many of the reports from malaysiakini on all these discrepancies and 'scandal'  that were unearthed on this blog, for more people to read and be informed and be aware AND to KICK BN OUT in the coming election!!! i will also email this blog post to my friends, those who are not subscribers of malaysiakini to let them be informed, and one day i will also print all the reports out to give to those who are not online. i want as many people as possible, i want the WORLD to know this is the kind of election commission (AND government) that we have!! grrr! :mad

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PAS to expose 'a huge number' of cloned voters
Jimadie Shah Othman
Jul 26, 11
3:47pm

AS has in its possession of a list of "cloned voters" and the numbers are "shockingly huge", the party's vice-president Husam Musa said today.

PAS would expose the total number in stages, after having lodged an official complaint on the first 500 "clones" the Islamic political party had detected recently, he said.

"We will arrange for a conference. We will display to everyone, and the media can double-check on this," Husam (left) added.

However, he declined to reveal the number of persons whose names appear twice in the electoral rolls, but promised to supply the list to the mass media.

He reiterated that PAS opposes the biometric system for voters the Election Commission (EC) has proposed, saying it did not resolve the problem of recurring voters.

"Why waste so much money (on the biometric system), instead of using indelible ink?" Husam asked.
The EC has previously brushed off allegations of multiple voting, asserting that no one person had voted twice.

EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof only accepted that the purported “clone identities” could have resulted from a glitch in the system.

'So, whose work is it?'

Husam said the electoral system did not only have a problem of “cloned voters” but the EC could not even explain how this happened in the first place.

“Who is behind all this?” asked the Kelantan executive councillor and Salor assemblyperson, adding that the EC should investigate the claim.

At this juncture, he said, PAS did not intend to pursue legal action to support its claim as he did not belief justice would be served if this was done.

His demand to the EC was also supported by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang (left), who said the biometric solution would not resolve claims about phantom and cloned voters.

“In fact, the biometric system is also vulnerable to manipulation by those who manage it because only a few have the expertise in dealing with such a system,” Hadi said.

He stood by the party's demand for the use of indelible ink and automatic registration to end all allegations of a rigged election system.

PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat, on the other hand, supported the implementation of the biometric system “if it is done in a transparent manner”.

Today's issue of the Malay language daily Sinar Harian quoted Nik Aziz as saying that PAS was willing to engage in a dialogue with the EC to hear its proposal on the system.

“Whichever system, whatever it is, must lead to transparency… I'm not referring to just one system (the biometric proposal)… whatever system that is not transparent must be opposed,” the Kelantan menteri besar and PAS spiritual leader added. 

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EC changes 'Mismah' status in draft electoral roll
Kuek Ser Kuang Keng
Aug 3, 11
2:54pm

The Election Commission (EC) has changed the status of Mismah, a 'permanent resident' whose name had been entered in the draft electoral roll.

Based on a check of its online verification system at 2pm, under the 'record status', (highlighted in screen capture, right) it is now stated that her application to register as a voter is dalam proses pengesahan daftar pemilih (being verified for the electoral roll).

Her name had been included in the draft supplementary electoral roll that has been opened for public scrutiny for a week.

EC head Abdul Aziz Yusof, when contacted, explained that the objection period had ended yesterday.

"Those who did not receive any objection will be gazetted (as elegible voters). Those who received objections will be subjected to a verification process," he told Malaysiakini.

"(During the process) a public inquiry will be called, (enabling) both parties – the potential voter and the complainant – to be heard."

Malaysiakini yesterday discovered Mismah had been categorised as a permanent resident (PR) in the National Registration Department (NRD) online system.

The NRD online verification system, which allows users to check the status of an individual, shows that Mismah holds MyPR card No. 640704715238.

About four hours after yesterday's report, Mismah's status on the NRD online verification system had been 'upgraded' to that of a citizen.

Abdul Aziz had earlier attributed this to technical negligence on the part of the NRD, insisting that only citizens are eligible to be registered as voters.

'NRD online database not updated'

Elaborating on this today, he said he had contacted the NRD and was told that its online database had not been updated alongside the Agency Link-Up System (Alis).

"(It was only) when I called (them) that they realised they have not updated the names online," Abdul Aziz (left) added.

The NRD online database – used by the public to verify their status and details – is different from Alis, which is the reference point for the EC in registering voters, he said.

According to election laws, the EC updates the electoral roll every three months with a quarterly supplementary electoral roll draft.

The names of all newly-registered voters, voters who have changed their residing addresses and voters who have been removed from the electoral roll, are compiled in the supplementary electoral roll draft.

The roll is then displayed usually for one week, for public scrutiny, before it is gazetted and used in the next election.

During the display period, members of the public can raise their objection to the names listed in the supplementary electoral roll.

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Chinese left out of rolls, claims Selangor PAS

Aug 3, 11 5:40pm

Selangor PAS today claimed that the Election Commission (EC) had failed to include many eligible voters on its latest supplementary electoral rolls, especially Chinese voters.

Selangor PAS secretary Mohd Khairuddin Othman (right in photo) said at a press conference that they discovered that 243 Chinese voters who had registered under the Paya Jaras state constituency were left out of the updated rolls.

He said this only added credence to concerns that the EC had not done its job in updating the electoral rolls, while at the same time allowing the rolls to be abused by interested parties.

“The supplementary electoral rolls have been abused by certain parties to bring in voters who are clearly not qualified to become voters in Selangor,” he said.

Khairuddin also accused the EC of deliberately putting up a supplementary roll which did not have the complete address of voters.

“This has made it difficult for PAS' election machinery to trace the location of those who had registered as new voters,” he said.

Opposition politicians kicked up a major fuss over the past few days, especially after Malaysiakini ran an article highlighting the inclusion of a Permanent Resident (PR) card holder on the supplementary roll.

Selangor PAS has also come up with its own data on the controversy, claiming to have found at least 1,100 names of PR holders on the updated roll.

The objection period for the latest supplementary roll closed yesterday.

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200,000 Indonesians listed as voters, claims Anwar
Jimadie Shah Othman
Aug 5, 11
5:49pm

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim claimed that some 200,000 Indonesians have been registered as voters in Malaysia, complaining of another dive in the standards of democracy in the country.

He was quoted as saying by The Philippine Star that he has received reports of the allegations and added that Filipino migrants in Sabah have also been registered on condition that they vote for the ruling BN government.

"I believe in the people of Malaysia. The Malaysian media and the government may have labelled me as a threat to the country and accused me of being a pawn for Zionists and the United States, but I believe the people can't be fooled," Anwar was quoted as saying by the online news portal during his visit to Manila.

Anwar's (right) comments come in the light of the recent controversy where a permanent resident holding a red MyPR card had been registered as a new voter in the latest supplementary electoral roll issued by the Election Commission (EC).

Merely four hours after Malaysiakini reported that Mismah had become a voter despite being just a permanent resident, she had apparently become a citizen.

According to election laws, the EC updates the electoral roll every three months with a quarterly supplementary electoral roll draft and only citizens are allowed to be registered as voters, and that verification is done through the Agency Link-Up System (Alis) of the National Registration Department.

Claims that foreigners being illegally registered as voters to increase the support of the political parties in power have been continually raised by polls watchdog Bersih 2.0 and opposition parties but constantly denied by the EC.

MyKad syndicates found in Subang

Meanwhile, Selangor PAS said today that several months ago they caught a group of syndicates involved in issuing Malaysian identification cards (MyKad) to foreigners red-handed.

Division secretary Khairuddin Othman (left in photo, with Khalid) told a press conference today that they had raided two houses in Paya Jaras, Subang to nab the group.

Khairuddin added that the “house owner” was distributing MyKads to those suspected to be Indonesians and Cambodians.

However, the culprit managed to escape before the police arrived at the scene. Nevertheless, members of Selangor PAS had lodged a police report on the matter.

During the raid, which took place in February, a collection of MyKads and scanning equipment as well as card readers used to authenticate the identification cards were discovered, he said.

Oddly enough, said Khairuddin, the names of the owners of the confiscated MyKads are still only recognised as permanent residents, with red MyPR identification.

“We have lodged a police report, but we still waiting for an answer,” said the practising lawyer, frustrated over the delay in investigations since their exposure in February.

“We don't dispute that many deserve to get the MyKad… but the discrepancies on the NRD's website give rise to doubts,” he said.

Shah Alam PAS MP Khalid Samad, who was also present, said that this case is similar to what had happened in Sabah several years ago, allowing for BN to win big in the state.

“So it is not impossible for this to take place in the peninsula, moreover when there is no transparency in the award of the identification cards,” he said.

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Penang voters increase by 32,000 in three months
Susan Loone
Aug 4, 11
4:18pm

Following the allegations that over 1,500 permanent residents were allowed to be registered in the latest supplementary electoral roll, Penang Pakatan Rakyat today claimed that the state saw a sudden surge of 32,000 voters in just three months.

A staggering 1,400 postal votes were inserted into Batu Maung state constituency, currently held by state exco member Abdul Malik Kassim from PKR.

Between 2008 to 2010, the Malay-majority seat only saw an increase of 2,200 voters.

The influx of voters was revealed today during a press conference called by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, attended by Abdul Malik and Deputy Chief Minister Mansor Othman.
In the past, said Lim, there would usually be increases of about 10,000 new voters, but the triple jump in figures was "suspicious" and raised concerns "that there may be fraud".

"(The) general election is approaching. If the increase in voters is about 200-400, it is acceptable, but now there is an increase of three times (the amount). How to win?" he queried.

Ghosts hungry for votes

Lim said the hike in voter figures happened in three months, and recounted recent allegations surrounding 'Mismah' and more than 1,500 permanent residents were registered as voters.

"In this world, we have instant noodles, but in Malaysia, we have instant voters," Lim joked.

"This month is the hungry ghost month for the Chinese, but what we are more afraid of is phantom voters," he added.

Lim condemned the Election Commission for its reluctance to investigate the cases or take action.

Such tactics could probably be in line with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's (right) call for BN to do whatever it takes to win the coming election.

Lim further criticised the EC for providing the Pakatan Rakyat with the electoral roll (in a compact disc) a day before the deadline to the protest period.

Despite this, he said, the component party will continue to write to the EC to oppose the unusual findings.

He expressed disappointment that the CD was provided late to Pakatan parties, as this prevented them from being able to screen the details thoroughly.

"The EC seem to want to hide something, they do not want us to reveal more malpractices…that is why they are so afraid of Bersih."
Phantom voters

He added the BN tried to use undemocratic methods to win the elections, and mobilise phantom voters to deny the rights of genuine voters.

At the same press conference, Malik said that the additional postal votes were inserted into his state constituency in the past three months.

He added that he was only able to detect them a day before the deadline to protest the EC's electoral roll.

There are only two military camps in Batu Maung – Sungai Ara and Bukit Gedong.

"There are indeed quarters in Sungai Ara but in Bukit Gedung, there is only an administrative centre, and two or three bungalows for general level officers," said Abdul Malik, who is a Penang exco member.

"But now, 1,400 soldiers and their families are using the address, this is a place where no one is living, then suddenly, there is a drastic increase," he added.

Mansor, who is Penanti assemblyperson, said he had found several "suspicious identities" in his constituency, and would be revealing more details soon.

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EC registers voter named 'Kg Baru'
Kuek Ser Kuang Keng
Aug 9, 11
10:41am

The Election Commission (EC) has been found to have registered a female voter named 'Kg Baru'.

At the same time, a new search has turned up more names in the electoral roll without a record in the National Registration Department (NRD) online database.

According to the EC online verification system, 'Kg Baru' (MyKad: 830527115422) is a voter registered in the state constituency of Hulu Besut and parliamentary constituency of Besut, Terengganu.

However, a check with NRD online system revealed that the MyKad number is assigned to one Noraini binti Abdullah (left).

"The question is, how can the EC make such a shameful mistake? How did it happen?” asked Johor PAS Youth chief Suhaizan Kaiat, who discovered the flaw.

“Does (EC deputy chairperson) Wan Ahmad Wan Omar still think this is an issue that should only be answered by the EC clerk?"
Responding this afternoon, EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Yusof admitted to Malaysiakini that it was a mistake and correction has been made.

"The record has been amended – (the individual's) name is Noraini binti Abdullah," he said.

Suhaizan also said he had detected a 'phantom voter' with no record in the NRD online database.

During a verification check this morning, the EC online system (right) showed that Farhana binti Abdul Rashid (MyKad: 840505715012) is a voter registered in the state constituency of Wakaf Mempelam and parliamentary constituency of Kuala Terengganu.

No result in the NRD database

However, the same identification number returned no result in the NRD online database, which stated 'no application/the number entered is not valid'.

"How can the EC register phantom voters when its registration system is linked with the NRD database through the Agency Link-Up System (Alis)?" Suhaizan asked in a statement.

This is not the first case of voters without a NRD record. This was also the case with two eligible voters, who appeared on the EC online verification system as being registered in the Hulu Langat parliamentary constituency.

However, Abdul Aziz rebutted this, arguing that the NRD database used by the EC contains details of the three voters.

He said he has no idea why the NRD website shows a different result.

Suhaizan (left) said such mistakes could have been due to human negligence, but that this showed the EC's voter verification system had failed to detect errors when the details were keyed in.

For this reason, he urged the EC to abolish the RM10 fee levied on each objection raised by the public, as well as the RM200 penalty for every objection that is rejected.

"One way to detect human negligence is through objections… But when the fee is too high, it burdens those who want to raise objections, when the purpose of objections is to clean up the electoral rolls," said Suhaizan.

"The objection fee is one of many weird matters in Malaysia. In fact, the EC should pay those who make objections as a token of appreciation, rather than charge them," he added.

Objection period 'too short'

Suhaizan also complained that the five-day objection period (July 29 – Aug 2), including a weekend, for the second quarter supplementary electoral roll draft was too short and unreasonable.

"The charges and short period make it seem that the EC has a hidden agenda to make it difficult for people to raise objections."

Under the election law, the EC updates the electoral rolls every three months with a quarterly supplementary electoral roll draft.

The names of all newly-registered voters, voters who have changed their residing addresses and voters who have been removed from the electoral roll, are compiled in the supplementary electoral roll draft.

The roll is then displayed, usually for one week, for public scrutiny, before it is gazetted and used in the next election.

During the display period, members of the public can raise objections to the names listed in the supplementary electoral roll, but must pay the related fees.

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From 'clone voters' to 'clone Umno members'
Kuek Ser Kuang Keng
Aug 15, 11
10:58am

The phenomenon of individuals having double identity cards may not be limited to the electoral roll for state and parliamentary elections.

According to PAS, there is evidence that a number of these 'clone voters' not only have two MyKad, but also double Umno membership, which raises questions about the legitimacy of the 65-year-old party which leads the ruling coalition.

Following his expose last week on three 'clone voters' who hold Umno memberships, Johor PAS Youth chief Suhaizan Kaiat (left) said a check with the websites of the Election Commission (EC), National Registration Department (NRD) and Umno's membership database found a number of Umno members and their 'clones' within the party.

A check by Malaysiakini with the NRD portal – which allows people to check the status of identification documents – confirmed that the three MyKad-holders have an 'extra' MyKad each.

The only difference between their respective MyKad is the last two digits of their number.

The three 'clone voters/Umno members' are alleged to be:

1. Azhar bin Ahmad

First MyKad: 680713095049 (valid)
Locality: Batu 13
Polling district: Tasoh
State seat: Beseri
Parliamentary seat: Padang Besar

Umno membership No: 00412036
State: Perlis
Division: Padang Besar
State seat: Beseri
Branch: Batu Hampar Beseri

Second MyKad: 680713095057 (valid)
Locality: Kg Baru Chuping
Polling district: Sg Buloh
State seat: Chuping
Parliamentary seat: Padang Besar

Umno membership No: 01167397
State: Perlis
Division: Padang Besar
State seat: Chuping
Branch: Kampong Baru Sungai Serai

2. Besah binti Mat

First MyKad: 450713095002 (valid)
Locality: Telaga Haji Abd Latiff
Polling district: Changkat Jawi
State seat: Guar Sanji
Parliamentary seat: Arau

Umno membership No: 00405301
State: Perlis
Division: Arau
State seat: Guar Sanji
Branch: Telaga Hj Latiff

Second MyKad: 450713095010 (valid)
Locality: Jejawi Batas
Polling district: Alor Lanchang
State seat: Sena
Parliamentary seat: Kangar

Umno membership No: 00401132
State: Perlis
Division: Kangar
State seat: Sena
Branch: Jejawi

3. Mansor bin Ahmad

First MyKad: 481104025705 (valid)
Locality: Felda Bkt Tangga
Polling district: Felda Bkt Tangga
State seat: Bukit Kayu Hitam
Parliamentary seat: Kubang Pasu

Umno membership No: 00145824
State: Kedah
Division: Kubang Pasu
State seat: Bukit Kayu Hitam
Branch: Felda Bukit Tangga

Second MyKad: 481104025713 (valid)
Locality: Kampong Masjid
Polling district: Felda Batu Lapan
State seat: Bukit Kayu Hitam
Parliamentary seat: Kubang Pasu

Umno membership no: 00144136
State: Kedah
Division: Kubang Pasu
State seat: Bukit Kayu Hitam
Branch: Pekan Changlun

Malaysiakini has not been able to verify their voting status because the EC online verification system has not been functioning this morning.
When contacted in the afternon, a public relations officer from the EC said there is a technical glitch with the website and it is currently being fixed.

Malaysiakini is also still seeking the response of the Umno secretariat.

Implications for Umno

Suhaizan claimed that the trio cited above – whose individual MyKad differ from their clones only in term of their last two digits – are just the tip of the iceberg, with many “thousands more” of such cases.

Dismissing the suggestion that double identities are a mere coincidence, Suhaizan said the case more probably reflects moves towards electoral manipulation, which has serious implications for Umno due to the possibility of its members voting twice in party polls.

"PAS Youth urges the Registrar of Societies to take stern action against the manipulation involving the Umno organisation and members.

"If it is proven that Azhar, Besah and Mansor had voted twice in the branch-level party elections, many annual general meetings of Umno branches would be void.

"Therefore Umno may face the 1988 crisis again, which caused the party to be declared illegal. This is a very serious manipulation. Umno members have a right to demand an explanation from their president."

On the denial by Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (left) that the party is not behind the registration of 'clone voters', Suhaizan said he is not at all convinced.

"Based on the evidence obtained by PAS Youth, it is impossible that Tengku Adnan is is unaware of this manipulation. This manipulation does not just involve the EC but also Umno," he said.

"If an Umno secretary-general cannot detect the data manipulation in his party, then he would be the weakest secretary-general in the history of Umno. (Umno president) Najib Abdul Razak should not continue his service. The Umno president also should not give excuse that it was just a mistake by the clerk.

"The EC and NRD should also give a satisfactory explanation to the people rather than dismissing this as a small issue.

"If this manipulation is just a small mistake, how is it that PAS Youth can find thousands of such cases?

"It can be exploited by those who have a vested interest in winning an election. Hence, an independent body should be formed to investigate this manipulation which we have proven."

EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Yusof (right) has asserted that the issue of double identity is a result of human error when the MyKad numbers were keyed into the system.

He claimed that the EC 'cleans' up errors in the electoral roll on a daily basis.

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PAS: 1,100 PR-holders in S'gor electoral roll
Aug 3, 11 1:19pm

Islamist party PAS has claimed to have found more than 1,000 permanent residence (PR) holders in Selangor alone who have been included in the electoral roll of eligible voters, strengthening assertions that the problem may be more than a case of mere 'technical negligence' by the National Registration Department.

Having identified the presence of foreigners in the list of eligible voters for Selangor, the state PAS Youth's elections-monitoring body urged members in other states to scrutinise the supplementary electoral rolls prepared by the Election Commission (EC) in their areas for more of such irregularities.

“In Selangor, there are about 1,100 names of permanent residents against which objections have been raised by the state PAS body, and it is hoped that those in other states can do similar work,” said the wing's elections department director Mohd Sany Hamzan in a statement.

Yesterday, Federal Territory PAS had claimed to have encountered 52 such cases of PR-holders being listed as voters when filing complaints with the Federal Territory EC.

Just as Malaysiakini discovered with one PR-holder by the name of 'Mismah', Titiwangsa PAS division secretary Hedzer Ibrahim said the 52 PR-holders had by 3pm been categorised as Malaysian citizens.
'Grave threat'

In a statement, Selangor PAS also claimed that the PR holders it found on the draft electoral roll had their status suddenly changed to full citizenship, despite documented proof that these individuals had been PR holders just hours earlier.

State party secretary Mohd Khairuddin Othman (right) alleged that this was discovered by a team from their elections department during a check on the National Registration Department's website about 3pm yesterday.

He said the cases include an Indonesian born in 1984, who was said to have full-fledged citizenship with a Mykad bearing the code 71, which equates to permanent residents born overseas.

“If this person was born in Malaysia, then the code stated on the identity card should be the code for the state of his or her birth.

"If this person was born outside Malaysia, why give this person such privileges to the point of having a blue Mykad as young as 27 years?”

Khairuddin said the entire situation poses a grave threat to national security, and requires a credible royal commission of inquiry into the matter and that legal action should be taken against those involved.

“Selangor PAS believes this issue will erode public confidence in the electoral process, especially in the rolls to be used in the coming election,” he said, adding that it adds credence to the immediate need for the use of indelible ink during the polls.

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Ex-army man: I was ordered to vote for others
Jimadie Shah Othman
Aug 4, 11
2:30pm

A former army personnel stepped forward today and told a PAS-organised press conference that he was involved in manipulating postal votes while in service under orders of a superior officer.

Nasir Mohamad (left), who identified himself only as having been "a clerk" at an army camp in Sandakan, Sabah, said the incident occurred during the general election of 1986.

"I, along with another clerk, was ordered to open the (postal) votes bag … (We) were ordered by a higher officer to open the votes bag, and (we were) ordered to mark the ballots.

"There were about 900 ballot papers including those meant for the army (personnel) and their spouses.

"I was told to divide (the votes) into two, (the other batch was handled by) my friend, whose name is Ayub Mat. He took more than 400 (ballots), I took the remainder.

Nasir said as he was inclined to BN at the time, he marked the ballots at hand in favour of the ruling coalition.

“I took the right of other people who were supposed to have cast those ballots. But as I was in the army, I had to be a 'yes man', said Nasir, who left the service in 1998.

Nasir's claims mirror an earlier incident that allegedly occurred in October 2009, in which one Abu Kassim then-ranked 'Sargent' admitted to having voted for other army personnel in two general elections.

Also present at the press conference were PAS Youth's elections director Mohd Sany Hamzan Hadir and the wing's 'Mobilisation and Democratic Rehabilitation' secretariat chairperson Suhaizan Kaiat.

Asked why he was coming forwarding more than 20 years after the incident, Nasir admitted to having been “fearful” of doing so.

“But since I'm no longer bound to any instructions from the army, I've mustered the courage (to do so),” he said, adding that he felt a sense of responsibility to the country's system of democracy.

At this point in time, Nasir said he has no plans to extend the case he has kept to himself for the past 25 years to the Election Commission (EC).

"It depends on the situation,” said Nasir, who is now a PAS member.

Suhaizan (left) said when the matter of Abu Kassim was brought to the attention of EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Yusof during the Bagan Pinang by-election two years ago, Abdul Aziz had assured the incident would not be repeated.

“But if the system is still the same, the same thing may occur again. I said this to Aziz when we met him.

“I didn't meet with the clerk of (EC deputy commissioner) Wan Ahmad (Wan Omar). I met with the boss of Wan Ahmad,” Suhaizan said snidely.
Postal votes 'too technical'

Going into the details of the problems they have identified with postal votes, Suhaizan laid out a host of data to support their claims of “fraud”, particularly from the Bagan Pinang and Sibu by-elections.

He raised many issues that were “too technical”, giving ample room for manipulation of postal votes such as through the sale of ballot papers on the black market and the limited power afforded to EC officials and observers at military camps.

Suhaizan, who is also Johor PAS Youth chief, questioned whether the EC has any intention of introducing early voting to replace postal votes as there has not been any attempt to push amendments to existing laws.

“If elections are held this November, will they do it? Amendments need to be brought to the Dewan Rakyat, and later the Dewan Negara. So what system will they use in the coming elections?”

Suhaizan suggested that postal votes only apply to troops who are carrying out critical duties, such as manning the borders, as a means to reduce the possibility of fraud.

“The wives don't need to be involved. They (soldiers' wives) are doing other things anyway. If they do vote early, do it outside the camp because it is harder to manage (voting) inside the camp,” he said.

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More 'cloned voters' detected in electoral roll
Kuek Ser Kuang Keng
Aug 10, 11
11:33am

First there were 'phantom voters', then 'permanent resident voters' – and now, more 'cloned voters' have appeared in the electoral roll.

At least seven voters have been found to have a 'clone' in the electoral roll, having been registered under the same name and old identity card (IC) number, but with a different MyKad number.

According to information obtained from the Election Commission (EC) online verification system, the names appear twice in the electoral roll, raising the question of whether they can vote twice in an election.

In one case, where the old IC number of 1479323 was entered in the 'family members verification system' page, it returned two entries under the name Sa'ad bin Samsudin, but with different MyKad numbers – 380913105681 and 510913105553 – and a different registered address.

The website showed that both entries have the same old IC number and are registered in the same parliamentary constituency – Titiwangsa, a seat won by Dr Lo' Lo' Mohd Ghazali from PAS, who passed away last month.

A check with National Registration Department (NRD) online system, which allows the public to check the status of identification documents, showed that the first MyKad number (380913105681) exists in NRD database but there is no record of the second (510913105553).

Titiwangsa PAS Youth chief Mohamad Suhaimi Abdul Aziz said the wing has found four similar cases in the constituency, involving:

1. Shodah binti Abdul Rahman

Old IC: 4802777

First entry: MyKad 550620055800 valid in NRD website, registered in Titiwangsa

Second entry: MyKad 560620055412 has no record in NRD website, registered in Titiwangsa

2. Mohamad bin Ismail

Old IC: 8370614

First entry: MyKad 540405025757 valid in NRD website, registered in Setiawangsa

Second entry: MyKad 540405025095 has no record in NRD website, registered in Titiwangsa

3. Anderson a/l P Arputhanathan

Old IC: A0831847

First entry: MyKad 671117106499 valid in NRD website, registered in Setiawangsa

Second entry: MyKad 671117105963 has no record in NRD website, registered in Titiwangsa

4. Chellamah a/p Murugesu

Old IC: 7877951

First entry: MyKad 491006045672 valid in NRD website, registered in Setiawangsa

Second entry: MyKad 491006015094 has no record in NRD website, registered in Titiwangsa

Two other cases

Acting on tip-offs from readers, Malaysiakini detected another two such voters registered in Perak and Terengganu.

The first – Mohd Rashid bin Ismail (old IC: 6397062) – has two entries in the Taiping parliamentary constituency (MyKad: 620108086991) and the neighbouring parliamentary constituency of Bukit Gantang (MyKad: 620108086713) respectively.

When both MyKad numbers were entered into the NRD online system, the result showed that the first card had been collected while the second is ready for collection at the Kuala Lumpur NRD office.

The second voter – Sulong bin Jalil (old IC: 6290844) – has two entries registered in the Ajil state seat under the Hulu Terengganu parliamentary constituency, but with different MyKad numbers – 611110015143 and 611110115371.

The NRD website showed that both MyKad had been collected.

These cases add to a claim last month by PKR Indera Mahkota MP Azan Ismail that he had found more that 60 voters with a double identity in the electoral roll.

Fake MyKad involved?

In a statement, Suhaimi said these cases are sufficient to prove that there is an organised effort nationwide to allow certain voters to vote twice.

"How can the NRD register the same old IC number and name for two different individuals? Or perhaps the same individual has two different MyKad? How can the EC accept this mistake without validating the name list provided?" posed Suhaimi.

He urged the authorities to remove all these names found in Titiwangsa, investigate their identity and withdraw their MyKad if they were found to have more than one.

"It is possible that fake MyKads were issued to these voters to allow them to vote twice. This is because some of the MyKad do not exist in the NRD list," said Suhaimi.

He added that a police report would be lodged if these voters were found to have two different MyKad.

Malaysiakini is attempting to contact the Election Commission and the NRD for comments.

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'Cloned voters' vanish in 24 hrs, but questions remain
Kuek Ser Kuang Keng
Aug 11, 11
11:25am

One day after the existence of 'cloned voters' – voters who have more than one entry in the electoral roll – was discovered, the Election Commission (EC) has removed the 'clones' from the roll.

However, at least one 'clone' (left) remains in the electoral roll, and there are still questions yet to be answered by both the EC and National Registration Department (NRD).

Yesterday Malaysiakini reported that at least seven voters have been found to have a 'clone' each in the electoral roll, having been registered under the same name and old identity card (IC) number, but with different MyKad numbers for the clones.

At that time, the EC online verification system showed that those names appear twice in the electoral roll, raising the question of whether they could vote twice in an election.

However, a check on the EC site this morning revealed that their 'clones' have disappeared from the same online system.
When contacted today, EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Yusof said that his commission is 'cleaning' the electoral roll on a daily basis.

“Based on daily official information from NRD through Agency Link-up System (Alis), the EC will amend or delete content on the electoral roll,” he said in a text message.

“In the case of double registration, EC will delete the not active ones subject to NRD confirmation, and the process will continue.”

The latest status of the seven voters are:

1. Shodah binti Abdul Rahman

Old IC: 4802777

First entry: MyKad 550620055800 valid in NRD website, registered in Titiwangsa, still remains in electoral roll.

Second entry: MyKad 560620055412 has no record in NRD website, registered in Titiwangsa, deleted from electoral roll.

2. Mohamad bin Ismail

Old IC: 8370614

First entry: MyKad 540405025757 valid in NRD website, registered in Setiawangsa, still remains in electoral roll.

Second entry: MyKad 540405025095 has no record in NRD website, registered in Titiwangsa, deleted from electoral roll.

3. Anderson a/l P Arputhanathan

Old IC: A0831847

First entry: MyKad 671117106499 valid in NRD website, registered in Setiawangsa, still remains in electoral roll.

Second entry: MyKad 671117105963 has no record in NRD website, registered in Titiwangsa, deleted from electoral roll.

4. Chellamah a/p Murugesu

Old IC: 7877951

First entry: MyKad 491006045672 valid in NRD website, registered in Setiawangsa, still remains in electoral roll.

Second entry: MyKad 491006015094 has no record in NRD website, registered in Titiwangsa, deleted from electoral roll.

5. Sa'ad bin Samsudin

Old IC: 1479323

First entry: MyKad 380913105681 valid in NRD website, registered in Titiwangsa, still remains in electoral roll.

Second entry: MyKad 510913105553 has no record in NRD website, registered in Titiwangsa, deleted from electoral roll.

6. Mohd Rashid bin Ismail

Old IC: 6397062

First entry: MyKad 620108086991 valid in NRD website, registered in Taiping, still remains in electoral roll.

Second entry: MyKad 620108086713 valid in NRD website, registered in Bukit Gantang, deleted from electoral roll.

7. Sulong bin Jalil

Old IC: 6290844

First entry: MyKad 611110115371 valid in NRD website, registered in Hulu Terengganu, still remains in electoral roll.

Second entry: MyKad 611110015143 valid in NRD website, registered in Hulu Terengganu, deleted from electoral roll.

However, for Mohd Rashid and Sulong, although their 'clones' have been removed from the electoral roll, both of them still have two different MyKad numbers as shown in the NRD website, which allows the people to check the status of identification documents.

According to NRD website, both MyKad belong to Sulong have been collected while Mohd Rashid still has one of his MyKad waiting to be collected at the Kuala Lumpur NRD office.

Besides these two cases, a blogger also found another voter, named Isacc Yovan a/l K Pitchay, with two MyKad, numbered 630124035077 and 630124107421, in the NRD website.

The blogger claims that Isacc, who is registered in the Lembah Pantai parliamentary constituency, previously also had a double identity in the electoral roll, which was removed by the EC today after being exposed.

This reporter has been seeking explanations from the NRD on the double MyKad issue, but the department has yet to reply.

Malaysiakini also discovered that a 'cloned voter' exposed by Indera Mahkota MP Azan Ismail of the PKR last month still remains intact in the electoral roll.

The voter, named Tham Chow Hoong (old IC: 7124612) has two entries registered in the parliamentary seat of Tanjong and Bukit Gelugor respectively, but with different MyKad numbers – 630925075968 and 630925076968.

A check with NRD website showed that the first MyKad (630925075968) is valid but there is no record for the second (630925076968).

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'Clone' voters are Umno members, discovers PAS
Kuek Ser Kuang Keng
Aug 12, 11
11:01am

Following the expose of 'clone voters', PAS claims it has discovered that some of those with double identity in the electoral roll are Umno members, raising the question of whether the ruling party is behind the fraud.

Johor PAS youth chief Suhaizan Kaiat, (left) today exposed another three 'clone voters' whose double identity is still available on the Election Commission (EC) online verification website.

Malaysiakini has verified that the trio have double identity with same name, address and registered constituency but slightly different MyKad numbers.

A check with National Registration Department (NRD) website which allows people to check the status of identification documents, found that one of their two MyKads is not valid.

The three new cases are different to the previous cases reported by Malaysiakini, which had been removed by the EC.

Clones voted twice suspicion

They do not have old identity card numbers, and their double identities share the same address but written in different format.

Later this afternoon, Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor confirmed the trio are Umno members, but denied that the ruling party is behind the glitch in the electoral roll.

Disclosing the details of their alleged Umno membership, Suhaizan claimed the trio belong to the Umno Puteri and Umno youth wings.

He suspected that those 'clone voters' had been allowed to vote twice by convincing the EC presiding officers during the polls using:
Fake MyKad
Fake driving licence
Genuine MyKad but allowed to vote because of minor error in MyKad number
Form 11 to declare that the voter is person whose name appears in the electoral roll
Other suitable means
"The evidence seems to prove that Umno is involved in electoral manipulation. PAS youth urges prime minister as Umno president to explain this discovery by PAS youth," said Suhaizan.

He stressed that the existence of 'clone voters' is not mere coincidence because the three voters disclosed today are just examples of the many cases that the Islamic party has detected.

"If Umno youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin accused that the Mismah issue has being created by the opposition, I would like to ask who created this electoral fraud?"

Details of the three voters unearthed by PAS are as below:

1. Mohd Bahar bin Omar

First MyKad: 800105025489 (valid)

Second MyKad: 800105025459 (invalid)
Umno Membership no: 02914008
State: Kedah
Division: Kulim Bandar Baharu
State seat: Kulim
Branch: Jalan Junjung

2. Faten Diana binti Hassan

First MyKad: 810822035400 (valid)

Second MyKad: 810522035400 (invalid)
Umno Membership no: 03252506
State: Kelantan
Division: Tumpat
State seat: Kelaboran
Branch: Dalam Rhu Pantai

3. Sharina binti Mat Ariff

First MyKad: 800727095094 (valid)

Second MyKad: 800729095094 (invalid)
Umno Membership no: 02999301
State: Perlis
Division: Padang Besar
State seat: Santan
Branch: Kampong Petal

EC chief: It's a result of human error

In another related development, EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Yusof told Sin Chew Daily that the issue of double identity is a result of human error when the MyKad number was keyed into the system.

He explained that some voters may have registered twice because their MyKad numbers were not correctly keyed in during their first registration. So they registered again when they found out their name did not appear in the electoral roll, resulting in the double identity.

These errors also occurred, said Abdul Aziz (left), when voters registered again after losing their MyKad, and during the process of changing the status of postal voters to ordinary voters.

He pointed out that many voters are not aware of their double identity because the EC only allows voters to check their status according to MyKad number and not name.

Abdul Aziz also said that those errors mostly happen to registrations done before 2002. After that, the authority made it compulsory for voters to register their constituency according to the address stated in their MyKad.

The EC will discuss with NRD on how to effectively address the errors in the electoral roll, he added.

——————————————————————–

PAS reveals another 'phantom voter centre'
Hazlan Zakaria
Aug 16, 11
5:08pm

PAS says it has more evidence of the government covertly issuing MyKad to foreigners and relocating locals, who are then inserted as BN Trojan horses in the Pakatan-held constituencies.

"A resort in Cherating, Kuantan, is being used as a processing centre as well as to distribute the MyKad.

"The centre is used for two purposes, one to hold and then coach foreigners who are then given Malaysian identity cards," PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali (right) told a press conference at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

"The other purpose is to process locals, who are then transferred to other voting districts."

The opposition has long been accusing the BN of such covert activities, allegedly using phantom voters who are inserted to swell the votes for the ruling coalition in areas it lacks popular support.

It has claimed that foreigners who are issued MyKad and the relocated locals will then vote for BN as coached and instructed during their induction at the 'processing centres'.

"I disclosed this yesterday at a press conference outside Kuala Lumpur, but it was not reported," lamented Mustafa.
'I can't trust EC deputy chairperson'

Asked if he has hard evidence to back his claim, he said he had what he needed to state his case.

"I shall report the matter to the Election Commission (EC), but I will hand over the evidence only to chairperson Abdul Aziz Yusof.

"I will not hand it over to the deputy chairperson, Wan Ahmad Wan Omar (left). I don't trust him. Abdul Aziz, I can still trust a little bit," sniped the PAS official.

However, Mustafa declined to disclose when he would hand over his evidence.

"Soon," was all that he was prepared to say to reporters, adding that PAS would first have to see how the EC responded to its earlier complaints.

The party had earlier revealed similar cases in Salak Tinggi and Paya Jaras in Selangor, both of which it claimed involved 'processing centres' for BN phantom voters and Trojan horses.

'MyKad issued to foreigners'

On Aug 5, the Islamic party announced at a press conference that it had raided two houses in Paya Jaras, Subang, to catch a group it believes was distributing MyKad to foreigners.

The "house owners", who escaped before police arrived after a police report was lodged by party members, were distributing MyKad to people suspected to be Indonesians and Cambodians.

During the raid, which took place in February, a collection of MyKad and scanning equipment, as well as card readers used to authenticate the identity cards, were also found.

In Salak Tinggi, the party organ Harakah Daily reported in March, National Registration Department personnel were found to be conducting briefing sessions and issuing MyKad outside of office hours.

The matter, said PAS, was suspicious and hinted at abuses in the run-up to the 13th general election.

——————————————————————–

Citizenship for votes: Pakatan MPs want inquiry
Hazlan Zakaria
Aug 16, 11
2:14pm

Unhappy with premier Najib Abdul Razak's plan to set up a select committee on electoral reform, Pakatan MPs are demanding a public inquiry into what they say is a core issue – alleged express-lane citizenship for permanent residents in exchange for votes.

“When he announced the select committee, he said it will only focus on electoral reforms. We Pakatan MPs want to stress that Najib cannot run away from the core issue of the issuance of citizenship to permanent residents,” said PAS veep Salahuddin Ayub.

He was speaking on behalf of Pakatan MPs at a joint press conference held at the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today, following up on a letter of Aug 8 demanding an emergency sitting of Parliament to address the issue.

“We waited for his response after the seven-day deadline, which ended late yesterday. We can prove it (our claims) and we cannot overlook this matter. This is a matter with a far-reaching impact,” he said.

Pakatan has claimed that the electoral roll is tainted, hinting at collusion between the Election Commission and the National Registration Department, and has said this presents a national security threat.

“Would we consent to foreigners – who don't understand our culture – determining the political direction of our country?” Salahuddin asked.

PKR veep Nurul Izzah Anwar cast doubt over the sudden registration of the newly-made citizens as voters.

“Why is it that immediately after becoming citizens, they register as voters en masse? Doesn't this raise some questions?” queried the Lembah Pantai MP.

'Sop to public opinion'

Salahuddin warned that the PM and Putrajaya should not dilly-dally, but observed that authorities have failed to act accordingly.

“Since the PM has failed to call for an emergency parliamentary sitting, he must call for a public hearing on the matter – a hearing that tours the country for the rakyat to give evidence on the issue of permanent residents being given citizenship.”

Pakatan MPs will send another letter to Najib demanding a public inquiry into the matter, failing which they will ask for a royal commission of inquiry, he said.

He also dismissed the premier's sudden proposal for the select committee a knee-jerk reaction to the demand for an emergency sitting.

It appears that Najib is looking to pacify the MPs and the public by appearing to take action over irregularities in the electoral roll, he noted.

“He was compelled to answer before sundown yesterday, so he just made it up,” he added.

Meanwhile, electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 said that if claims that the NRD is giving out identity cards to foreigners is true, it would be tantamount to treason.

“If the NRD has done such a thing, it would have been effectively committing treason. Because they are selling off Malaysian citizenship rights like anything you can get from the pasar malam," said the group's steering committee member Wong Chin Huat.

Earlier today, Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin claimed that she had evidence of illegal immigrants being legalised under the 6P programme who were asked to pledge loyalty and vote for Umno and BN.

Expressing concern over the recent development, the coalition said that it will look into the evidence provided by Zuraida.

The group also acknowledged the need for NRD to clean up its records, but stressed that the EC should not push the ball to NRD as their systems are linked.

“About the case of Mismah, that was not NRD's problem. On NRD's records – at least at that point of time – she would have been a permanent resident. So if the record is flawed, there is no reason the EC would have given her the right as a voter.

“If they want to blame NRD, then they have to explain how could a guy called Kg Baru (be registered as a voter)? If you claim everything is linked up then there is no reason for all these flaws,” he added.

——————————————————————–

'Script' of migrants' oath to back BN uncovered
Aidila Razak
Aug 16, 11
1:33pm

In what it claims to be further evidence that the amnesty programme is being used to create “phantom voters”, PKR said today illegal migrants who go through the programme are made to take an oath of allegiance to BN and Umno.

PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin (centre in photo) said representatives of the women's wing had “sneaked into the syndicates running the amnesty programme” and found the “script” of the oath.

“(We) found that the illegal migrants were made to take an oath to support Umno and BN to be part of the amnesty programme. (We) managed to get the script to expose this fact to the public,” she told a press conference today.

The copy of the script, said to have been taken from an amnesty agency in Selangor, made available to the press shows an oath typed out in Bahasa Malaysia.

It states that the person taking the oath swears to support and vote for Umno and BN, as would their husbands, wives and children.

“I will also continue to defend Islam and Malays. My family and I promise to keep this matter secret, or face the consequences,” it said.

The source of the document could not be independently verified, and when asked about the veracity of the document, Zuraida only said it “is real” because “(PKR) went in there and took part as one of (the migrants)”.

“There are also migrants who understand our federal constitution, know what is right and wrong and want to expose the truth,” she said.

Zuraida, who is also Ampang MP, said PKR had spoken to about 10 witness who could testify that they were made to take the oath, but the party was “trying to compile more evidence before we bring them to the fore”.

“We will reveal more concrete evidence. We had revealed it before, the use of Umno letterheads for citizenship, etc, but no action was taken so this is the result of our further investigation,” she said.

She also called on the government to halt the amnesty programme immediately pending a “high level investigation” into the matter as it involved the nation's sovereignty.

“The important thing is for Malaysians to know how dirty and disgusting (jijik) BN and Umno are so they can make a choice,” she said.

——————————————————————–

And now – voters with non-existent MyKad code
Kuek Ser Kuang Keng
Aug 17, 11
2:22pm

Even as the BN and Pakatan Rakyat trade barbs over the proposed parliamentary select committee on electoral reform, more flaws are being exposed in the electoral rolls by political parties and members of public.

The latest discovery by a PAS supporter shows several registered voters in Kedah having MyKad numbers that do not exist.

This information is posted on a Facebook page registered to a Pengundi PAS Kedah (Kedah PAS voter) and is accompanied by screen-capture images (left) of the search result from the Election Commission's (EC) website.

It shows the seventh and eighth digits of the MyKad numbers of three voters are listed as '00'. These two digits are used to indicate the place of birth of the MyKad holder.

According to the National Registration Department (NRD) website, which lists the codes for states in Malaysia and foreign nations, the code '00' does not exist.

When contacted, an NRD customer service officer confirmed that there is no such code and requested this reporter to lodge an official report with the department.

A check with the NRD portal – which allows people to check the status of identification documents – showed that there is no record of the three MyKad.

When accessed this morning, the EC online verification system confirmed the voting details of the trio:

1. Hasrullizam bin Halim
MyKad no: 800604002563
Voting constituencies: Bukit Pinang (state), Pokok Sena (Parliament)

2. Rosmadi bin Chik
MyKad no: 801111002544
Voting constituencies: Kota Siputeh (state), Jerlun (Parliament)

3. Shapiza binti Ghazali
MyKad no: 811020002568
Voting constituencies: Bukit Lada (state), Pokok Sena (Parliament)

EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Yusof (left) has repeatedly explained that every voter registration will be checked with the NRD database through the Agency Link-up System.

Therefore, it is not known how the three voters were registered in the electoral roll despite their MyKad numbers being invalid.

"If they had been checked, the NRD would not have verified the existence of MyKad number with code '00'.
"If it was the fault of clerks, why are there so many people with the code '00' unless it was (a deliberate mistake)," Pengundi PAS Kedah says on the Facebook page.

"I hope that there will be a concrete explanation from the EC and NRD. A check with NRD shows that there is no record (of such MyKad), so where do these people come from? Born on the planet of Pluto?"

32 entries 'cleaned out'?

The Facebook page also posted screen-capture images of 32 Kedah voters who allegedly have a double identity in the electoral roll.

However, the double identity no longer exist when Malaysiakini checked with the EC online verification system this morning.

According to Abdul Aziz, the EC is 'cleaning' the electoral roll, including the removal of double registrations, on a daily basis based on NRD information.

Over the last two weeks, Malaysiakini has highlighted flaws in the electoral roll, including 'permanent resident voters' whose status in the NRD database had been 'upgraded' to 'citizen' within hours, and 'clone' voters who have two entries in the electoral roll or two different MyKad.

Under pressure from the opposition and electoral reform coalition Bersih 2.0, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak announced on Monday that a bi-partisan parliamentary select committee on electoral reform would be formed.

——————————————————————–

Four more ex-soldiers admit to postal vote fraud
Joseph Sipalan
Aug 17, 11
2:26pm

Postal vote manipulation has been a common practice in the military for many years – so it seems – now that more retired military personnel are speaking up.

Now, four ex-military personnel have confessed to committing election fraud – the same way an ex-army man said he did so earlier this month.

The four, who had served at army and air force bases across the country, say they marked thousands of postal votes in three separate general elections between 1978 and 1999.

The four – Major (Rtd) Risman Mastor (right), Kamarulzaman Ibrahim, Mohamed Nasir Ahmad and Mohd Kamil Omar – said they were ordered by their commanding officers to mark postal votes for the hundreds and thousands of personnel who were out in the field.

Their expose today is the second after an ex-army man came forward earlier this month, making a similar claim that he was ordered to mark postal votes for other personnel.

Kamarulzaman, who was a clerk working at the Terendak army camp in Malacca, said he was ordered to spend three days marking thousands of ballot papers during the 1986 general election.

The 53-year-old said he was given three pens of different colours, which he used alternately to sign the postal votes in the absence of the army personnel who were on their tour of duty.

“For example, I would use a blue pen to sign for one serviceman and a black pen to sign for his wife. I was also ordered to mark votes for the opposition,” he said at a press conference hosted at the PAS headquarters by the party's youth wing.

When asked how many postal votes he signed, Kamarulzaman said he could not remember the exact number but was sure that it ran into the thousands.

“If you want to say how many, let's just say my hand went numb (from signing the ballot papers). I basically voted for soldiers from all over the country.”

'It was the wrong thing to do'

Kamil, a retired Air Force commando based at the Butterworth Air Force base, claimed he was offered a “reward” if he complied with the order to mark a box full of postal votes during the 1999 general election.

The 21-year veteran however refused to carry out the order, saying that he realised it was not right for him to mark ballots for his colleagues.

“They gave me a box, and expected me to mark all the ballots in 30 minutes. I realised it was wrong,” said the 49-year-old, adding that he has no idea what the “reward” was since he did not carry out the order.

Nasir, 50, who was a clerk based in Sandakan during the 1986 general election, said he and another colleague were told to split over 900 postal votes between them to be marked on behalf of their fellow soldiers.

He pointed out that being in the military, orders are orders and that soldiers were “not too bothered” about politics.

“Even after retirement, we didn't care so much about politics. But when Bersih came about, we started to realise that what we did was not right,” he said.

Risman stressed that this practice went as far back as the 1978 general election, when he and nine others were ordered to go through around 200 sacks – each containing 10 postal votes – during his time at the Kampung Sawah army camp in Port Dickson.

“I did it just that one time… I don't remember the figures but I believe there were about 10 (ballots) in each sack. In effect there were just 10 of us actually voting,” he said.

——————————————————————–

14,000 'foreign-born' voters in Penang, claims PAS
Susan Loone
Aug 17, 11
1:43pm

Penang PAS alleges it has detected about 14,000 'foreigners' in the state electoral roll and has launched an investigation into the matter so that a report can be filed with the Election Commission soon.

State PAS Youth secretary Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden (right) said the alleged irregularities were detected by the party's election committee over the week.

PAS party has its own computer system, Hamimi said, which has been able to detect the number of foreigners or permanent residents with the middle number '71' in their identity cards.

"The number of this kind of voters in the electoral roll is very high and appeared suddenly. Also, the controversy over Mismah has made us very suspicious," he told Malaysiakini today.

Recently, Malaysiakini exposed a case where an individual named Mismah was listed as a PR holder but was included in the latest update to the country's electoral roll.

However, her status was changed to full citizenship just hours after the issue made the headlines.
The Election Commission clarified the Mismah incident as a mere "technical glitch" as the National Registration Department had failed to update its data despite Mismah having received full citizenship since January this year.

Mismah has denied any irregularity in the granting of her Malaysian citizenship.

Penang voters surge by 26,000 in three months

PAS had earlier pointed out that checks conducted in Selangor, Perak, Penang, Johor, Kelantan and Terengganu yielded similar cases where PR holders were registered as voters, with at least 1,100 identified in Selangor alone.

On Aug 5, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng claimed that the state saw a sudden surge of 26,000 voters in just three months.

Lim said among others, the Batu Maung state constituency, currently held by state exco member Abdul Malik Kassim from PKR, saw a shocking increase of 1,400 postal votes.

On Aug 9, the PAS Penang election unit revealed that it had found 237 "suspicious" names in the electoral roll.

The findings showed several inconsistencies, including voters with two identity card numbers with different names, different people with similar names and similar ID numbers, as well as those with similar names but with different birth dates registered as voters in two different areas.

Meanwhile, Hamimi said the controversy over the ban on use of loudspeakers for the recital of verses from the Quran by the Penang Fatwa Council before dawn prayers was planned to divert attention from irregularities revealed in the electoral rolls.

He urged that the debate be stopped and focus be put on the "issue of betrayal" by certain quarters who had compromised the future of the country into the hands of foreigners through dubious practices involving the MyKad and the electoral roll.

The Penang Fatwa Council had been criticised for allowing the state government under Lim (left) to 'interfere' in the matter.

However, Lim has denied any involvement and this was duly confirmed by state mufti Hassan Ahmad in a recent press conference.

Afnan Hamimi noted that the Election Commission had admitted it was unable to prepare a completely clean electoral roll as demanded by Bersih 2.0.