The DAP has urged the Election Commission (EC) to be more active in registering new voters, or allow political parties to this, as it had done before.

Lamenting the EC’s “lazy mindset”, Tanjong MP Ng Wei Aik hoped the approval could be given to DAP to register new voters in his constituency and in Juru on Aug 30, so as to take advantage of the crowds on the Merdeka holidays.

Ng ( right ) said DAP hoped to help out in the voter registration, since the EC has thus far taken a lackadaisical approach to  voter registration.

He said the EC claimed last month that it could not conduct the exercise as it was Ramadan.

"When we wrote to the EC asking that we help out in the exercise in our constituencies in July, the EC sent a letter to say it couldn't do it due to the fasting month," Ng said.

The EC, however, said it had set up voter registration counters in Komtar's third floor during working days. 

 

But Ng said the people did not notice EC officers working in  Komtar, as the booths were not obvious and there was no publicity on the matter.

 

"We are not trying to ridicule the power of the EC, but it should hire more staff, especially non-Muslims, to help out during Ramadan," Ng said.

 

"It is understandable that the Muslim staff could not conduct the exercise during the month but how about non-Muslim staff?"

‘If you can’t do it, let us’

Ng said while the EC did set up registration counters at the third floor of the Komtar building on work days, there was no publicity or signs to inform would-be voters of its presence.

"If the EC cannot cope, please re-appoint assistant registrars. We are ready to help, even to go to church grounds and night markets to do it," Ng said. 

 

"If the EC can't work, please don't stop others from doing it. We are already tired with its attitude.

 

"Automatic new voter registration can save a lot of time, and EC cannot expect new voters to go to post offices to register themselves during working hours," Ng said.

He added that DAP woyld submit a memorandum to the EC office in Penang next week to pressure the commission to re-appoint assistant registrars or allow political parties to help out in this important exercise.

The EC has disallowed political parties from registering voters in the run-up to the 13th general election, after it claimed it found discrepancies in the forms submitted.

Meanwhile, state DAP Youth secretary Soon Lip Chee said he has received complaints that new voters found difficulties in registering.

 

Eligible voters also found it difficult to change their addresses, Soon claimed.

Excuses, excuses

 

He said he sent the EC a letter at the end of July requesting it to assist in the registration in 10 parliamentary constituencies, from August to September.

 

But the EC replied on Aug 8 saying that it could only provide assistance in six areas, Soon claimed, and that it could not do it for the remaining four due to time and venue factors.

 

After reviewing the dates and venues, Soon submitted another letter on Aug 9, adding Bayan Baru to the list.

 

"The EC replied on Aug 9 saying the proposed voters registration sessions clashed with it own function and asked us to do it in October

"The EC said we can only do it in the morning and told us to avoid using venues like markets, mosques and worship places.

 

"For mosques and worship places, I can accept, but why can't we register voters at the market?" Soon asked, adding that a market is a public space where even campaigning is allowed.