Susan Loone | Aug 4, 11 4:18pm
Malaysiakini

Following the allegations that over 1,500 permanent residents were allowed to be registered in the latest supplementary electoral roll, Penang Pakatan Rakyat today claimed that the state saw a sudden surge of 32,000 voters in just three months.

A staggering 1,400 postal votes were inserted into Batu Maung state constituency, currently held by state exco member Abdul Malik Kassim from PKR.

Between 2008 to 2010, the Malay-majority seat only saw an increase of 2,200 voters.

The influx of voters was revealed today during a press conference called by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, attended by Abdul Malik and Deputy Chief Minister Mansor Othman.

In the past, said Lim, there would usually be increases of about 10,000 new voters, but the triple jump in figures was “suspicious” and raised concerns “that there may be fraud”.

“(The) general election is approaching. If the increase in voters is about 200-400, it is acceptable, but now there is an increase of three times (the amount). How to win?” he queried.

Ghosts hungry for votes

Lim said the hike in voter figures happened in three months, and recounted recent allegations surrounding ‘Mismah’ and more than 1,500 permanent residents were registered as voters.

“In this world, we have instant noodles, but in Malaysia, we have instant voters,” Lim joked.

“This month is the hungry ghost month for the Chinese, but what we are more afraid of is phantom voters,” he added.

Lim condemned the Election Commission for its reluctance to investigate the cases or take action.

Such tactics could probably be in line with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s (right) call for BN to do whatever it takes to win the coming election.
Lim further criticised the EC for providing the Pakatan Rakyat with the electoral roll (in a compact disc) a day before the deadline to the protest period.

Despite this, he said, the component party will continue to write to the EC to oppose the unusual findings.

He expressed disappointment that the CD was provided late to Pakatan parties, as this prevented them from being able to screen the details thoroughly.

“The EC seem to want to hide something, they do not want us to reveal more malpractices…that is why they are so afraid of Bersih.”

Phantom voters

He added the BN tried to use undemocratic methods to win the elections, and mobilise phantom voters to deny the rights of genuine voters.

At the same press conference, Malik said that the additional postal votes were inserted into his state constituency in the past three months.

He added that he was only able to detect them a day before the deadline to protest the EC’s electoral roll.

There are only two military camps in Batu Maung – Sungai Ara and Bukit Gedong.

“There are indeed quarters in Sungai Ara but in Bukit Gedung, there is only an administrative centre, and two or three bungalows for general level officers,” said Abdul Malik, who is a Penang exco member.

“But now, 1,400 soldiers and their families are using the address, this is a place where no one is living, then suddenly, there is a drastic increase,” he added.

Mansor, who is Penanti assemblyperson, said he had found several “suspicious identities” in his constituency, and would be revealing more details soon.