Okay to fly in voters, says EC
By Zurairi AR
PUTRAJAYA, May 3 — The Election Commission (EC) said today that it is fine for individuals to ferry voters as long as the beneficiaries are not asked to vote for certain political parties or candidates.
Yesterday, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor admitted that voters were being flown in to the peninsula, but stressed that the flights were sponsored by “friends” of BN as part of the party’s “get out the vote” campaign for Election 2013.
“It’s okay ... But if they give tickets, money, then ask voters to choose this party or this candidate, then that’s wrong,” said EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof (picture).
“If there are complaints ... MACC will investigate, police will investigate ... If it is proven to be graft, then that party is guilty,” he said, referring to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
The Malaysian Insider understands that EC is not aware of the move by “friends of BN”, but Abdul Aziz explained that nothing can be done to stop the flights.
“Even if it’s true, what’s wrong? Shall we stop the flights and stop people from coming back?” he told The Malaysian Insider.
Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said earlier that the “friends” of BN have committed an election offence by flying in voters from east Malaysia to key states in the peninsula.
Ambiga, who is the co-chair of polls watchdog Bersih, also said such flights were “very suspicious” and pointed out that it was usually Sabahans and Sarawakians working in the peninsula who have to fly back home to vote in the Borneo states, and not the other way round.
“It’s an offence under 20(6)(b),” Ambiga told The Malaysian Insider late last night, referring to the Election Offences Act 1954.
The prominent lawyer pointed out that under that section, voters may be ferried to their polling stations across the sea, but that such transportation must be provided to all voters.
She noted, however, that since such flights were provided by “friends” of BN, it was likely that the flights were only for those voting for the coalition.
“You’ve got to give it to everybody. That’s the test. You can’t be selective,” said Ambiga.
Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said yesterday that over 40,000 dubious voters, including foreigners from Sabah and Sarawak, have been flown in since last week to key states in the peninsula like Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.
The Prime Minister’s Office has denied Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) claim that it is involved in flying in Malaysians and foreigners to the peninsula to vote in Sunday’s polls.
National carrier MAS has also denied allegations that it is deploying chartered flights to transport phantom voters.
Ambiga urged BN to disclose the full list of voters who are being flown in to the peninsula and where they will be casting their votes in what is considered to be the closest election since independence.
“They should just come clean and tell us the whole story — who they are, their names, where are they are supposed to vote and would they have objections to people interviewing them,” said the former Bar Council president.
“Are these west Malaysians living or working in east Malaysia? Why is it they’re in such large groups only in certain areas of west Malaysia?” she added.
