Even the 'dead' voted in Batu Sapi

By Queville To

KUALA LUMPUR: There were 156 voters who were more than 100 years old whose names appeared in the electoral rolls of the recently concluded Batu Sapi by-election.

But they were also found to be dead, with death certificates issued by the National Registration Department (NRD).

Tawau MP Chua Soon Bui revealed this in Parliament when questioning the competence of the Election Commission (EC) during the debate on Budget 2011 last week.

“We were told that the electoral roll has been cleaned up, but how come these names were still there? How many of these had been found to have voted in the recent Batu Sapi by-election? Please explain why such cases are still happening,” she asked.

She also demanded to know why more than 20 people were prevented from voting in Batu Sapi with their names replaced in the electoral roll with those of others but using their MyKad numbers.

Chua was also dissatisfied with the answer given by the EC officials in Batu Sapi that they could do nothing about it and that the affected voters should check their MyKad with the NRD.

She described such an answer as being irresponsible on the part of the EC, citing that in the first place the mistakes were made by them, hence it was their responsibility to rectify it with the NRD, instead of making the complainants run around.

“I hope the EC would view it seriously because these voters demand a satisfactory explanation,” she said.

She also wanted to know why government officers such as the navy, police and General Operations Force personnel who had been posted away from Batu Sapi were still allowed to cast their postal votes there.

“What is the EC policy on these serving officers who have been moved to other constituencies? Why aren't their postal votes transferred to the new constituencies of their current posting?” she asked.

Chua also asked how much money was spent by the EC in the Batu Sapi and Galas by-elections.