DAP: Charge culprits in court

The opposition party wants the EC to press charges against the two assistant registrars found to be registering the names of dead people.

SEREMBAN: DAP has filed a police report in connection with the case of two Election Commission assistant registrars who were sacked for registering the names of dead people.

The report was filed with the police headquarters here today by Negeri Sembilan DAP’s legal bureau chairman Siow Kim Leong.

Speaking to reporters later, state DAP chief Anthony Loke said the duo, who had been sacked by the Election Commission, breached Section 3 (1) (a) of the Election Offences Act 1954 by providing false information.

Calling on the EC to charge them in court, he said: “Even though the law has been there for so long we have never heard of the EC charging anybody in court for election offences of this kind.”

Loke pointed out that the EC had told the Parliament Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reforms that those with evidence regarding such cases should file a police report.

“Now, we have lodged a police report. So this is a test case for EC and the ball is in EC’s court,” added the Rasah MP.

Loke also said that the sacking of the duo confirmed Pakatan Rakyat’s allegation that there had been attempts to register phantom voters in certain constituencies.

He also warned voters who allowed their names to be registered as phantom voters in addresses that do not exist like the case in Taman Sri Amber in Seremban, which he exposed yesterday.

“Under the same section, the voters can also be charged in court for giving false information. They can be jailed for not more than two years or fined not more than RM5,000 or both.

“But I don’t want to lodge a police report against them as I know these people are victims of irresponsible politicians. However, they must be careful in future,” he added.