EC rejects 500 new voter forms because they changed rules without any notice

KUALA LUMPUR: The Election Commission of Malaysia (EC) has rejected almost 500 new voter registrations for not complying with a new requirement, which had been put into place without prior notice.

Several DAP MPs said they were shocked to be notified by an EC staff the registration forms had been rejected because they did not have photocopies of the applicants’ identity cards.

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said EC had made changes to the voters’ registration application four times in six months without making them public.

“We sent more than 500 registration forms (from five DAP service centres) but they were all rejected as they did not include photocopies of the MyKad,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

Lim said the new requirement was effective Oct 1 and DAP was only verbally notified on Monday.

“We were unaware of the changes and this has affected our voters registration drive,” he said.

Lim also said the drive was meant to help register new voters and not to verify the voters’ identities.

“We register voters, it is our labour of love. We do it pro bono although it is not our job to verify these voters … it is the EC’s job. They are the ones connected to the National Registration Department,” he said.

Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai said that when he called Kuala Lumpur EC chief Shafie Taid for an explanation earlier yesterday, he was told the formal letter of notification was only “just ready”.

“Shafie said a written notice informing of the change was only ready today (Tuesday).”

Tan said he learnt the reason for the new requirement was to avoid having names of those deceased on the electoral roll and to prevent registration of non-citizens and those under-aged as voters.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok said although the EC had good reasons for the changes, its move to make such changes discreetly was “troublesome”.

She said EC should hold a briefing when it wanted to change its policies or requirements.