Military not allowed to vote in party polls

PETALING JAYA: In keeping with military tradition of remaining apolitical and serving the government of the day, military personnel cannot join political parties, Patriot said.

Its communications director, Capt Wong Ang Peng, said the Armed Forces Council forbids any personnel from joining a political party.

Media reports alleged that 30 individuals were barred from voting during the PKR election process for holding military identification cards on Sunday.

PKR leadership council member Elizabeth Wong said she had submitted proof to Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu’s office, and a copy was also submitted to PKR secretarygeneral Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, of those suspected of being military personnel voting in the party elections.

The Defence Ministry said it viewed seriously claims of military personnel being involved in the election process of a political party in Selangor.

“Based on a research conducted, the information reported (by the media) was contrary to the police report lodged by the political party’s officer in charge.

“A total of seven individuals charged with holding military identification cards or becoming ‘ghost voters’ have been investigated by the police. Preliminary checks revealed that the seven individuals were not military personnel,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said it will wait for the results of the investigation as a police report had been made.

If found to be true, disciplinary action will be taken against those involved, it said.

On Sunday, police detained seven men aged 18 to 55 after they were suspected of causing a stir during the PKR election process in Petaling Jaya.