Explain discrepancies, EC urged
> Bersih: Answer complaints on uninformed changes in electoral roll
PUTRAJAYA: Election watchdog Bersih has submitted a report to the Election Commission (EC) on more than 80 public complaints over the electoral roll it has received since Parliament was dissolved on April 7.
Its steering committee said complaints included voters being moved to another constituency without their knowledge, names removed from the electoral roll and names of unregistered individuals appearing on the electoral roll.
Bersih said it has verified the complaints by cross-checking the current and older versions of the electoral roll.
“We demand the EC explain these discrepancies and take urgent action to protect the integrity of the electoral roll before May 9 (polling day),” it said in a statement yesterday after Bersih acting chairman Shahrul Aman Mohd Saari handed the report to the EC at its headquarters.
The committee said the EC should also provide a written explanation to each complainant and reveal the action taken to rectify the problems.
“Bersih is especially alarmed by the high number of complaints received from Malaysians staying overseas who have been registered without their consent, and those transferred to distant constituencies without their knowledge.
“It raises serious questions over the registration process and the motive of those who registered these people, who are unlikely to be present to vote on polling day.
“It is shameful that some voters will now be unable to cast their ballots in their home constituencies due to the EC’s failure to address basic issues concerning the electoral roll before the general election,” the committee said.
Bersih urged voters who encounter similar problems to come forward and submit their complaints to the EC immediately.
They should also supply a copy of their complaints to aduan.pemantau.org to enable Bersih to assess the seriousness of the problems associated with the electoral roll, it added.