EC registers voter named 'Kg Baru'

(Malaysiakini) The Election Commission (EC) has been found to have registered a 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?"

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 showed (right) that Farhana binti Abdul Rashid (Mykad: 840505715012) is a voter registered in the state constituency of Wakap Mempelam and parliamentary constituency of Kuala Terengganu.

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)?" queried Suhaizan 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.

Suhaizan (left) said such mistakes could have been due to human negligence, but that this shows 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 hidden agenda to make it difficult for people to raise objections."

Under election laws, 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.