EC: Normal to have 28pct new voters unidentifiable

While Pakatan has expressed concerned over the 28 percent out of 500,000 new voters in Selangor who can’t be identified, the Election Comission (EC) has rebutted that it is “normal” given the fact that mobility in the state is high.

“The question of 28 percent of new voters who can’t be traced, that is normal,” its deputy chief, Wan Ahmad Omar, told a press conference held at his residence today.

He said people are moving around in the country, changing jobs, graduating, and this contributes to the number of voters who can’t be identified.

In 2010, Selangor ranked top in terms of the number of eligible citizens who have not registered as voters, with 700,000 such people, he said.

However, according to Wan Ahmad (centre in photo), the number has been reduced to 250,000 due to aggressive efforts by the EC, political parties, NGOs and the citizens themselves.

“And don't be surprised if I tell you, the Pakatan parties have been very aggressively doing the registrations in Selangor. 

“So, when the number of voter increase is so high, they shouldn’t be hairan (surprised),” he said.

To a question whether the EC will work with Pakatan state governments in an effort to clear up the electoral roll, Wan Ahmad seem quite reserved.

“The state government didn’t come to see us. They go to the media for publicity, get political mileage, then send EC a document (letter), what’s the point?” he questioned.

[More to follow]