The report of the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reform has revealed that the electoral roll contains the names of 1,136 police and military personnel who have yet to apply for a MyKad.
As at March 20, these personnel - 483 police and 653 armed forces - did not have either MyKad or MyTentera, the special identity card for members of the military force.
This shocking fact was unearthed during an audit of the electoral roll conducted by Mimos Bhd, a government-owned technology company, according to the PSC report presented to the Dewan Rakyat this morning.
In its 73-page report, the PSC suggested that both the police and military force rectify the problem within 60 days from today.
Efforts to clean up the much-disputed electoral roll form an important part of the report.
Yet, a key proposal raised by the PSC in its interim report last year - to verify Sabah's electoral list - has been rejected by the Election Commission (EC).
"The EC has no suggestion to re-verify the Sabah's electoral roll. It will focus on efforts to clean up the electoral roll of Sabah, taking into account the background of voter registration in Sabah with the help of the National Registration Department," the report stated.
The PSC had proposed the verification of Sabah's electoral list after it found many questionable names on the list.
Authority to make changes
The Mimos audit did not detect duplicate registration of voters using the same 12-digit MyKad identification number.
However, 324 addresses have been registered with more than 100 voters each, as well as 938 addresses with 51 to 100 voters each.
The registration of a large number of voters at a single address is due to several reason, based on previous clarifications:
1. Incomplete addresses
2. Addresses that are too generic and which use words like kampung, rumah pangsa, rumah panjang and jalan but without a house number - this happens mainly in rural areas
3. Addresses that are shared by voters - such as original home/birth place or rented property - but which are not updated after they move out
4. 'Borrowed' addresses, or an address used by a voter to enable him or her to register to vote in a particular constituency
The PSC suggested that the EC should publish a list of such dubious voters, along with their addresses within 45 days from today, so that those affected can contact the EC to help clean up the electoral roll.
The EC will have to report its progress on the clean-up exercise to a permanent parliamentary special select committee, which should monitor and study such efforts, said the PSC report.
The report noted that the PSC was informed that the EC has no power to remove the status or change the constituency of any registered voter from the master electoral roll, based purely on complaints from other quarters.
Hence, the PSC proposed that a legal provision be studied to give the EC the authority to make changes based on public complaints, backed by valid evidence.
As at March 20, these personnel - 483 police and 653 armed forces - did not have either MyKad or MyTentera, the special identity card for members of the military force.
This shocking fact was unearthed during an audit of the electoral roll conducted by Mimos Bhd, a government-owned technology company, according to the PSC report presented to the Dewan Rakyat this morning.
In its 73-page report, the PSC suggested that both the police and military force rectify the problem within 60 days from today.
Efforts to clean up the much-disputed electoral roll form an important part of the report.
Yet, a key proposal raised by the PSC in its interim report last year - to verify Sabah's electoral list - has been rejected by the Election Commission (EC).
"The EC has no suggestion to re-verify the Sabah's electoral roll. It will focus on efforts to clean up the electoral roll of Sabah, taking into account the background of voter registration in Sabah with the help of the National Registration Department," the report stated.
The PSC had proposed the verification of Sabah's electoral list after it found many questionable names on the list.
Authority to make changes
The Mimos audit did not detect duplicate registration of voters using the same 12-digit MyKad identification number.
However, 324 addresses have been registered with more than 100 voters each, as well as 938 addresses with 51 to 100 voters each.
The registration of a large number of voters at a single address is due to several reason, based on previous clarifications:
1. Incomplete addresses
2. Addresses that are too generic and which use words like kampung, rumah pangsa, rumah panjang and jalan but without a house number - this happens mainly in rural areas
3. Addresses that are shared by voters - such as original home/birth place or rented property - but which are not updated after they move out
4. 'Borrowed' addresses, or an address used by a voter to enable him or her to register to vote in a particular constituency
The PSC suggested that the EC should publish a list of such dubious voters, along with their addresses within 45 days from today, so that those affected can contact the EC to help clean up the electoral roll.The EC will have to report its progress on the clean-up exercise to a permanent parliamentary special select committee, which should monitor and study such efforts, said the PSC report.
The report noted that the PSC was informed that the EC has no power to remove the status or change the constituency of any registered voter from the master electoral roll, based purely on complaints from other quarters.
Hence, the PSC proposed that a legal provision be studied to give the EC the authority to make changes based on public complaints, backed by valid evidence.
It was also proposed that the EC should have a special enforcement team to enforce election laws, including taking action against voters who use a false address to register.
MPs split on automatic registration
On the proposal to implement automatic registration for citizens when they turn 21, the report acknowledged that there is valid reason to enable this measure.
But the majority of PSC members feel that this would have to be brought in later, as priority should be given to cleaning up the electoral roll.
Furthermore, introducing automatic registration would require amendment of Article 119 of the federal constitution.
The EC has therefore been told to study the proposal and act within 12 months to pave the way for implementation.
The PSC said the final decision had been put to a vote and that all three opposition MPs - Anthony Loke (DAP-Rasah), Hatta Ramli (PAS-Kuala Krai) and Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) had voted for immediate implementation.
Investigations into the dubious electoral roll, such as the issue raised in Sabah, and the PSC’s proposal for a royal commission of inquiry should first be carried out, noted the report.
This is to achieve the objective of creating an electoral roll which can be trusted by all quarters, it said.
MPs split on automatic registration
On the proposal to implement automatic registration for citizens when they turn 21, the report acknowledged that there is valid reason to enable this measure.
But the majority of PSC members feel that this would have to be brought in later, as priority should be given to cleaning up the electoral roll.
Furthermore, introducing automatic registration would require amendment of Article 119 of the federal constitution.
The EC has therefore been told to study the proposal and act within 12 months to pave the way for implementation.
The PSC said the final decision had been put to a vote and that all three opposition MPs - Anthony Loke (DAP-Rasah), Hatta Ramli (PAS-Kuala Krai) and Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) had voted for immediate implementation.
Investigations into the dubious electoral roll, such as the issue raised in Sabah, and the PSC’s proposal for a royal commission of inquiry should first be carried out, noted the report.
This is to achieve the objective of creating an electoral roll which can be trusted by all quarters, it said.
The opposition MPs also objected to a proposal to allow citizens who turn 20 to pre-register as voters from the age of 21. The trio had wanted the voting age to be lowered to 18 instead.
However, the other members accepted the proposal, suggesting that it be implemented for the next session of Parliament.
Click here to read all 22 recommendations in the PSC report.
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