New EC ruling a ‘logistical nightmare’

Copy of MyKad to be attached to voter registration forms will not only dampen registration exercise but will prove to be an uphill task, says DAP

KUALA LUMPUR: The directive by Selangor Election Commission (EC) requiring assistant registrars to attach photocopies of new voters’ MyKad when registering them will make the exercise an uphill task.

Selangor EC director Dzulkifli Rahman, in a circular to assistant registrars dated Aug 22, said the new ruling will help to prevent attempts to register dead people and permanent residents as voters.

DAP’s publicity chief Tony Pua said the new directive is going cause a logistical nightmare for those trying to register themselves as new voters.

“We open voter registration booths in night markets and shopping complexes. Where are we to find photocopy machines there?” asked Pua.”It would be too costly for any political party or movement’s registrars to secure a copier machine.”

“Selangor DAP itself has 60 registrars. We can’t afford to buy 60 photocopy machines,” said Pua, who is also the Petaling Jaya Utara MP. “In addition, people would also be wary in providing a copy of their MyKad for obvious safety concerns.”

He said the EC should not penalise genuine registrars at the expense of the errant ones.

“The EC had commended our registration process and called it one of the cleanest. They even acknowledged that our error margin is less than 10% per submission,” said Pua.

He said the solution to the problem is to commence automatic registration of voters once they reach the age of 21 as it will do away with the need to spend so much money to set up booths to register potential voters.

“And the EC need not hire thousands of data entry clerks to key in new voters’ details,” said Pua, adding that Section 15 of the Elections Act 1958 empowered the EC to choose it own method of registering voters.

“There is no need to enact new laws for automatic registration. They can just use data from the National Registration Department (NRD) which they are allowed access to.

“It will also absolve the EC of any wrongdoings as in the case of a 110-year-old voter recently discovered in the electoral list. The buck will then stop at the NRD,” said Pua.

Indelible ink

Another option was for the EC to haul up and at lease suspend registrars who have more than a 30% error in their list.

“Perhaps they can give them several warnings but if they persist with their errors, the EC can terminate their services,” said Pua.

He also criticised the EC for rejecting applicants who refused to indicate their religious status in the voter registration form, as it was an immaterial and frivolous requirement.

“As long as the person is a citizen, he or she has the right to vote. Besides, our constitution does not say that a citizen must have a religion to be allowed to register as a voter,” said Pua.

In a related matter, Pua lauded EC chairman Abdul Aziz Yusof’s decision to consider the use of indelible ink during polls.

He, however, cautioned Aziz on the use of the biometric system saying it would be tough logistically to be implemented.

“Besides the system needs to be online during polls. What if the serves crashes and the connection is bad during polls?

“Being a person with an information technology background, I know the system would also cost way lot more compared to the use of the indelible ink,” said Pua.