Zahid concerned over surge of new voters, hopes GE called soon

 

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today expressed his concern over the upcoming surge of new voters and hoped that the next general election would not be delayed much longer.

In his speech at the Bagan Datuk Umno division meeting this morning, the leader reminded party members that the implementation of Undi18 and automatic voter registration would see 5.8 million new voters registered.

Zahid (above) said the number will increase every month in every constituency, including in Bagan Datuk.

"In Bagan Datuk alone, there will be some 13,000 additional voters, from 45,000 we had before. This means that there will be 58,000 voters here.

"And it must be noted that the electoral roll is gazetted every month.

"So, if we are to delay the general election, as what is wished by an Umno leader who is no longer part of our national leadership, then we would see the number increasing even further.

"That in Bagan Datuk itself, if the election is delayed for too long, then we might see the number go up to over 60,000," he added.

'It's not that we are scared'

According to Zahid, who is Bagan Datuk MP, the concern was not because they are afraid of the young and new voters.

Instead, he claimed, the party wanted to avoid facing more issues when going for the polls.

"It's not that we are scared, but our concern is that, if the election is delayed for too long, then there will be many more issues popping up, many more weaknesses will be revealed, and also there will also be many allegations, slanders that will keep coming to us.

"Would we be able to handle these issues and problems?" Zahid asked the division members.

The government expected a total of 5.8 million additional voters when Undi18 and automatic voters registration came into force on Dec 15, including about 1.2 million youths between the age of 18 and 20.

In a press statement last week, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the number of new voters represents around a 40 percent increase in registered voters, from 15.8 million to 21.1 million.

"In fact, the number of eligible voters is expected to increase every month," he had said. - Mkini