The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) calls upon the Election Commission to urgently respond to the issue of voters being unconstitutionally transferred across state and parliamentary constituencies.
On 1 July 2016, Bersih 2.0 visited the commission’s office to raise our concern about vote transfers. We handed over data showing that 118,774 voters were moved to different state constituencies, of which over 40,000 voters were also moved to different parliamentary constituencies.
The commission has promised to look into the issue, but unfortunately the commission wrote back to say that they needed more time. However, Bersih 2.0 has given the commission three weeks to analyse the data and we are surprised that the commission needed more time when they are the primary source for the data.
Today, we are here as we have brought affected voters to lodge their complaints.
We are also here because Bersih 2.0 has found that the changes carried out by the commission could potentially affect the result of the elections. For example, in the following parliamentary seats with marginal winning majority:
Parliamentary Constituency | Winning Majority in 13th General Elections | Number of Voters transferred in | Number of Voters transferred out |
035 Kuala Nerus | 610 | 548 | 500 |
058 Bagan Serai | 1,140 | 603 | 553 |
059 Bukit Gantang | 986 | 487 | 429 |
119 Titiwangsa | 866 | 252 | 0 |
140 Segamat | 1,217 | 2,694 | 868 |
141 Sekijang | 3,007 | 738 | 2,694 |
146 Muar | 1,646 | 81 | 531 |
150 Batu Pahat | 1,524 | 508 | 990 |
159 Pasir Gudang | 935 | 0 | 463 |
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Given the significant impact, Bersih 2.0 reiterates that the changes made by the commission are unconstitutional because it causes the number of voters and boundaries of state and parliamentary constituencies to change. Such changes can only be done via a public redelineation exercise, which requires due process and parliamentary approval.
Bersih 2.0’s public complaint hotline has received over 100 reports from voters, since it was set up on 1 June 2016. Many voters were unaware that their voting constituency had changed and asked why the changes were made.
Bersih 2.0 demands an immediate response from the commission to:
- explain the specific reasons for the correction of each locality, in order for voters to assess and verify the changes;
- reinstate voters who were moved across state and parliamentary constituencies. Return them to their original constituencies, because such changes can only be done via a public redelineation exercise.
It is therefore urgent that the commission meets with Bersih 2.0 as soon as possible to resolve what might be perceived as illegal tampering of the electoral roll and unconstitutional and covert delineation without adhering to due process.
Bersih 2.0 steering committee
22 July 2016
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
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- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
Keep up with the excellent work Aliran. You can count on our support.
Thank you for your kind words!
but the original post is dated july.