PKR candidate for the Penanti state seat by-election Mansor Othman is upset that the names of several voters were missing from the electoral roll.

He said that as of 9.30am, he had been informed that seven to eight voters could not cast their votes as their names were not on the list.

penanti_EC checking list_02_31052009 And he was quick to blame the Election Commission for the fiasco.

"This is the EC's game, similar to what had happened during 2004 general election where many voters were moved to other constituencies without their knowledge," he told reporters after visiting the SRJK (C) Jit Sin polling centre.

"I fear that the voting turnout would be affected (by this)," he said.

Mansor was referring to the voting disaster that took place in 2004, especially in Selangor, when thousands of voters discovered that they had been transferred to vote in other constituencies, resulting in a chaotic situation where polling hours had to be extended until 8pm.

penanti by election 310509 mansor othman visit polling center 2.jpg The PKR candidate ( right ) also said that his party would take the necessary actions, including lodging a complaint to the EC.

He hoped there were no more cases like this.

Anwar reveals more cases

Voter Tan Soon Guang was one such victim. He said that he had voted at the Jit Sin polling centre at the 2008 general election and Aug 26, 2008 Permatang Pauh by-election.

This time around, his name was missing from the list of voters at the centre and a check with the EC's roll revealed that he had been moved to vote at the Bukit Mertajam Parliament seat and Berapit state seat.

Pakatan Rakyat chief Anwar Ibrahim also revealed that three to four voters who had voted in the Teluk Wang polling district for last year's general election and Permatang Pauh by-election were transferred to Permatang Pasir, another state seat under Permatang Pauh, this morning.

"We will launch a complaint to SPR after the by-election," he said after visiting Kampung Tun Sardon community hall.

When asked if it will affect the voter turnout, Anwar replied that "it is not a problem".

He said he was confident his party can retain the seat.

Penang PKR assistant secretary Lim Boo Chang later informed Malaysiakini of another 10 cases of voters whose names were not in the electoral roll, including that of a 80-year-old senior citizen.

He said that these 10 had had their names transferred to vote in the neighbouring Permatang Pasir state constituency without their knowledge and consent.

It is uncertain if these 10 include the persons mentioned by Anwar earlier.

‘Don't blame the EC'

Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng who saw first hand this morning of some voters finding their names missing, said this pointed to a conspiracy by the EC to sabotage the by-election.

"They are trying to stop voters from voting," he said.

When contacted for comment, EC chief Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof blamed the voters for not checking the voters' list earlier.

penanti_guan eng_kitsiang_31052009 He said that if that had been done, the EC could have corrected the situation before polling today.

"They should have checked (earlier). This is all due to the last-minute mentality," he said.

"Don't blame the EC," he added.

The by-election is a four-cornered fight among Mansor and three independent candidates - former PKR leader Aminah Abdullah, former Gerakan youth leader Nai Khan Ari and motivational expert Kamarul Ramizu Idris.

The seat fell vacant after the incumbent Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin, resigned on April to further his studies, after having stepped down earlier as Penang deputy chief minister and state executive councillor.

The constituency has 15,384 voters, of which 72.68 per cent are Malays, 24.22 per cent Chinese, 2.39 per Indians and 0.71 per cent other races.

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