Shahidan says phantom voters in Sungai Limau, promises to give details

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim today claimed there were a number of phantom voters in the Sungai Limau by-election on Monday.

He told a press conference at the Parliament lobby that these voters were not from the Sungai Limau constituency but instead were “outsiders” who had voted in the election.

"We could not trace these people. They have addresses in Sungai Limau but they are not living there.

"I feel sad this has happened," the Arau MP added.

Shahidan promised to disclose tomorrow the number of phantom voters who had voted in the by-election on Monday.

He also said he had reported the matter to the Election Commission but the commission told  him they could not do anything about it.

"So I urge the people in Sungai Limau to look at the list of voters when the Draft Supplementary Roll is displayed for 14 days before it is confirmed and gazetted in the main electoral list.

"The locals must look at the list and protest if they do not recognise names from their area," Shahidan said.

However, he said he was happy with the support Barisan Nasional received in the by-election.

"Overall, more Chinese supported us. We lost the young voters," he acknowledged.

PAS candidate Mohd Azam Abdul Samat defeated BN’s Dr Ahmad Sohaimi Lazim with a majority of 1,084 votes to bag the Sungai Limau state seat. Azam, 37, will be sworn in at the Kedah legislative assembly on November 18.

Shahidan also called on the Election Commission to ensure that the tents set up outside the polling centres for both opponents be erected far apart in the future to avoid fights, referring to Wanita Umno Bandar Baru Sentul chief Norsidah Abu Bakar getting punched in the eye during a scuffle with a PAS supporter in Ulu Sedaka when she went to greet voters on Monday.

"The circumstances cause the situation to become tense and heated up. So to avoid such fights, we hope the EC will do something about the tents."