PKR questions police inaction over phantom voters

PKR treasurer-general Tan Yee Kew says 1,429 people have been reported for giving false information to the EC and NRD, with a further 3,500 suspects identified.

PETALING JAYA: PKR today questioned the police’s apparent lack of action over reports that people had given authorities false information regarding their home address in a possible bid to switch polling stations.

It said it had lodged police reports on the matter between August and November last year, but received no update despite questioning the investigating officer many times.

In an open letter to Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun, PKR treasurer-general Tan Yee Kew said 1,429 people were reported to the police for giving false information to the Election Commission (EC) and the National Registration Department (NRD).

“We have also identified a further 3,500 suspects who also gave false information to JPN and SPR,” she said, referring to the government bodies by their Malay initials.

She said PKR had conducted a door-to-door investigation on the voters in the electoral roll for Wangsa Maju, which revealed that the people allegedly residing at the addresses did not live there.

Likewise, the house owners did not know of any such people living there.

“It is clear from our investigation that false information was given by these people to SPR and JPN, stating that they live there when in actual fact they don’t, and the submission of change of address by these people to SPR and JPN is suspected to be for the purpose of changing polling stations, thereby jeopardising the transparency and integrity of the whole polling system in our country.

“If the actions of these people are not arrested, then we fear the whole registration and polling system in our country will be compromised, and this will not be good for the country.”

Last July, Tan said PKR had proof of 1,609 phantom voters that were newly registered or transferred to Wangsa Maju between July and December 2016.

The phantom voters were reportedly part of a larger number of 4,804 new voters – by registration or transfer – in the area, which could significantly impact the voting in four polling districts, namely Taman Melati, Seksyen 1 Wangsa Maju, Gombak Utara and Wangsa Melati.

There are a total of 18 polling districts in Wangsa Maju.

Tan said PKR was disappointed that the crime of giving false information to government bodies such as the EC and NRD was not being fully or efficiently investigated.

“We are convinced that a serious crime has been committed in this matter unless the police investigation reveals otherwise; and if this statement is only our perception, then we challenge the police to let us know if our perception is wrong.

“We want justice done in this matter, and the only right thing for the police to do is to hold a complete and thorough investigation into this matter so that there is closure to it.

“The responsibility of the police in maintaining law and order is of utmost importance to the country, and they must discharge their duty in a fair and just manner, without fear or favour. The rakyat deserve a fair and just general election.” -FMT