From 'clone voters' to 'clone Umno members'

The phenomenon of individuals having a double identity 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 holdUmno membership, 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 he 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.

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. - Malaysiakini