Ignore BN threats, ‘new voters’ told

PKR veep Nurul Izzah tells 'new BN voters' to come forward and expose those responsible for threatening them with citizenship revocation.

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Rakyat has vowed to challenge BN’s grip on permanent residents (PR) allegedly given citizenships in return for their votes in the 13th general election.

PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar said these “new BN voters” have their citizenship status constantly under threat and urged them to expose those responsible.

“We will continue with our campaign to clean up and expose the abuses by BN.

“I appeal to these ‘BN citizens’ to give us information on how they were naturalised and who threatened them with citizenship revocation,” she told a press conference here.

Pakatan previously claimed to have found evidence of permanent residents and foreigners being offered citizenships in return for votes for BN in the next general election.

They claimed that immigrants from countries like Indonesia and the Philippines given permanent residents status were found to have been listed on the electoral rolls.

They were then found to have been converted as citizens “within hours”.

Yesterday PAS submitted a memorandum to the Home Ministry demanding action be taken within seven days or Pakatan will pressure Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak for a response.

“If he fails to do so, Pakatan will hold a street rally,” said PAS leaders.

The government is struggling to cope with the aftermath of the Bersih 2.0 rally last month that saw its image battered from its high-handed tactic against the peaceful street demonstration held to demand electoral reform.