More ‘irregularities’ found in electoral roll in Penang

Susan Loone | Aug 5, 11 4:30pm
Malaysiakini

The Pakatan Rakyat government in Penang continues to reveal “irregularities” in the supplementary electoral roll, claiming there was a sudden surge in more state seats in the first quarter of this year.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said today that the surge in votes in certain areas within the three months has exceeded the increase of votes since 2008, or 33 months (two years and nine months).

He said he cannot help but be suspicious over the matter and blamed the Election Commission again for dabbling in “dirty” tricks in the voter registration process.

“Something is simply not right,” he told reporters at a press conference in Komtar today.

Lim then pointed out two other state constituencies where he felt there was a “suspicious” surge in number of voters – Padang Lallang and Paya Terubong.

In Padang Lallang, there was a 19.8 percent increase in votes, from 1,794 (in the fourth quarter of 2010) to 3,958 (in the first quarter of 2011), he said.

In Paya Terubong, there was a surge in votes of 10.2 percent, from 2,826 (fourth quarter 2010) to 3,178 (first quarter of 2011), he added.

Yesterday, Lim claimed that the state saw a sudden surge of 32,000 voters in just three months.

However, today, Lim clarified that the actual figure was 26,000 as the remaining 6,000 has been dropped from the list due to change of address and death.

“But the impact is still the same,” he added.

State exco member and Batu Maung assemblyperson Abdul Malik Abul Kassim also revealed yesterday that a staggering 1,400 postal votes were inserted into his state constituency.

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

‘Strange’ increase of votes in second quarter

Meanwhile, Lim drew the attention of reporters to the increase of votes in the second quarter of this year, which he also found ‘strange’.

Constituencies which saw high surge in votes (from new registration and those who registered a change of address) include Telok Ayer Tawar (1,050), Seberang Jaya (1,004), Machang Bubok (1130), Tanjung Bungah (1,439), Paya Terubong (1,338) and Batu Maung (1,880).

Telok Ayer Tawar and Seberang Jaya are under Barisan Nasional (Umno) while the remaining seats belong to Pakatan.

When asked if this could be due to the active registration of new voters programme by political parties such as the DAP and Umno, Lim said the figures could not be that high.

“I don’t see many political parties doing the new voter registration as much as DAP and Umno, so (the figures) could not be that high,” he added.

Asked if the state government would be meeting with the Penang branch of the EC, Lim could not confirm the matter.

He added that the state would continue to write and point out the irregularities in the supplementary electoral roll to the election body to voice out their protest.