'Perak, Negri would have fallen in alternative universe'

BERSIH TRIBUNAL Pakatan Rakyat would have won Perak and Negri Sembilan if the 13th general election was held in an “alternate universe” where the electoral roll is clean, said an electoral roll analyst today.                    

Malaysian Electoral Roll Analysis Project (Merap) researcher Lee Wee Tak made this point while testifying at the Bersih People’s Tribunal to highlight the potential impact of “dubious” voters on the electoral roll, particularly in marginal seats.

Lee had submitted documents explaining some 30 different types of electoral irregularities, then spent over 90 minutes presenting data on five types that he believes are most critical.

These include voters highlighted as dubious at testimonies heard at the Sabah royal commission of inquiry, voters who had been transferred without parliamentary approval under the Election Commission’s “boundary corrections”, and new voters who have incomplete address or no address at all.

He told the tribunal that he reached the conclusion after comparing the number of such voters against the majorities won in these seats during the general election.

"If it were very old voters, then probably yes, they may not even have a kampung because they are just new settlers.

"But in the 21st century, I would expect you to have a house number. If you don’t have a house number or street number, how are you going to collect quit rent or assessment. It will be a loss of revenue to any responsible administration,” he added.

For example in the state of Negri Sembilan where BN won 22 state seats compared to Pakatan’s 14, he identified Ampangan, Johol, Klawang, Labu and Pilah as seats that Pakatan may have won.

For Perak, the seats of Manjoi, Lubok Merbau, Pasir Panjang and Manong might have fallen to Pakatan if it weren’t for the ‘dubious’ voters, he said.

He also pointed out that Pakatan already enjoys the popular vote in Perak, but lost out when it came to the number of seats.

BN currently holds 31 seats in the state, against Pakatan’s 28.