DAP accuses EC of stealing GE14 by allowing voters at uncompleted camp

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang has accused the Election Commission (EC) of stealing the 14th general election by refusing to act against army voters transferred to an uncompleted camp in Segamat.

"We have heard of phantom voters, but this is the first case of phantom voters in a phantom military camp – and is irrefutable proof of the EC and the Umno/BN government caught red-handed in trying to 'steal' the 14th general election by shifting 1,051 army voters to an uncompleted Segamat military camp...," he said in a statement.

Lim was referring to the EC's decision to reject DAP's objections against the transfer army voters to the amp.

"This is not a case of one, ten or 50 persons committing the electoral offence of illegally registering as a voter in a place which is neither a place of residence or work, or one or two registering officers taking part in electoral scams and committing election offences.

"It involves the army and the Election Commission in a major illegal conspiracy to pad parliamentary constituencies which Umno/BN regard as dangerous and could lose in the 14th general election with safe army votes - to the extent of over a thousand votes," he stressed.

Deputy Defence Minister Johari Baharum (photo) had defended the transfer of army voters to the uncompleted camp, claiming that they have already moved to Segamat and nearby areas pending the completion of the camp.

However, Lim rubbished the explanation as "untrue" and "nonsensical".

He also criticised the EC's conduct over the inquiry into DAP's objection against the transfer of the army voters.

"This is a gross abuse of power by the EC and the latest proof of its 'strategic manipulation' of the electoral roll – and why Malaysia’s electoral integrity plunged to the rock-bottom of the world, just above Zimbabwe," he said.

Meanwhile, electoral reform group Bersih also criticised the EC for allowing the transfer of the army voters to the yet to be completed Segamat camp.

"This is an offence and electoral fraud that contravenes the Federal Constitution," said its chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah (photo) in a statement.

She also complained that during the EC's inquiry, witnesses were not allowed into the investigation room and the identity cards of those being objected failed to be produced.

Maria added that Bersih and political parties have also exposed the transfer of voters to marginal parliamentary and state seats such as Bukit Katil, Lembah Pantai, Kluang and Hutan Melintang.

"Government ministries and institutions, particularly those that conduct the electoral process, must respect and protect the rights of voters to elect a government of their choice.

"Electoral manipulation is an affront to voters' rights," she said.

The Segamat parliamentary seat is held by MIC president S Subramanaim, who is also health minister.

Subramaniam won the seat by a 1,217-vote majority in 2013. He garnered 20,037 votes to PKR's 18,820 votes.- Mkini