PH demands revote after candidate’s agent barred entry at voting centre

 

The scene at the police station in Masjid Tanah which was one of the voting centres for early voters in the Melaka state polls today. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: An agent for a Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate was forced to wait over two hours before being allowed to enter a voting centre in Masjid Tanah, sparking calls for a revote to be held.

Early voting was held for the Melaka state election today.

PH’s Lendu candidate Muhammad Asri Ibrahim claimed Election Commission (EC) officers prevented his agent from entering the centre, at a police station, on grounds that he did not have the required documents on him.

But Asri said there was no issue when another agent went to the voting centre at the ammunition depot in Masjid Tanah.

“Why were we allowed to enter the voting centre at the depot without any fuss, but barred from doing so at the centre at the police station? It would have made more sense if we were prevented from entering both sites,” he told FMT when contacted.

Asri said he was forced to contact the EC in Alor Gajah to resolve the matter.

But by then, it was too late he said, adding that 25 voters had already cast their ballots.

Asri also said that he had lodged a police report after alleging that an EC officer was “campaigning” for Barisan Nasional when police officers arrived to vote.

“We heard an EC officer who was checking the temperature of police officers saying, ‘Don’t forget to vote for BN’,” he said, adding that an EC officer is supposed to be neutral and is also not allowed to campaign for any party at the polling booth.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said barring the agent was a serious issue and urged the EC to take action and be transparent.

He said the incident in Masjid Tanah tainted the electoral process.

“I urge the EC to consider having the voting process carried out again at this voting centre.” he said. - FMT