DAP has accused Selangor Umno of initiating a systematic programme to deny pro-oppositon supporters from becoming voters.

They alleged that Umno or its associates have been objecting to eligible voters from being registered, as well as voters who have applied to change their addresses to vote at new constituencies in the next general elections.

"In the last few months, many DAP representatives have received complaints that newly registered voters were objected from being included in the electoral roll by unknown individuals," Serdang MP Ong Kian Meng said in a press conference today attended by DAP lawmakers.

According to them, Umno members or individuals linked to Umno were spotted at the protest hearing conducted by Election Commission (EC) for voters from four state seats.

The state seats were Kuala Kubu Baru, Teratai, Paya Jeras and Degkil.

Ong said the EC will conduct the objection hearing for 952 voters this month.

"There is enough evidence to show that this is a systematic programme funded by Selangor Umno," he said.

Ong, who went to an objection hearing dated Sept 10, said he found the reasons for objection to be "unacceptable".

"I spoke to 20 voters who attended the hearing. They have resided at the area for at least three years and some of them even for more than 10 years.

"A government hospital doctor registered at the Dengkil state seat but works in Kuantan, was forced to come to Shah Alam to attend the hearing.

"The reason given by the objectors was that the voters can't be traced," he said, adding that no additional proof given.

Caused much hardship for new voters

Despite EC having rejected the objections, Ong noted that it has caused much hardship for the new voters and delayed the process of registration.

EC publishes the new registered voters for one month before being gazetted into the electoral roll.

Ong said the EC must not allow objections when objectors could not produce enough evidence.

According to him, article 15 of the Election (Registration of Electors) Regulations 2002 stipulates EC member has the right to ask the objectors to provide more information regarding the nature of the objection.

Also present at the press conference were Selangor speaker and Subang Jaya state assemblyperson Hannah Yeoh, Teratai assemblyperson Tiew Way Keng, Kuala Kubu Baru assemblyperson Lee Kee Heong and Bersih committee member Thomas Fan.

Meanwhile, Yeoh ( photo ) said the students at her constituency are being targetted.

"Why are they being targetted? Is it because they are pro-opposition?" she asked.

She also shared a dilemma of a parent whose child studying abroad had an objection from becoming a voter.

"Now the parent need to get their child's original copy of identity card (IC) to attend on behalf," she said.

Meanwhile, Lee said she noticed of such practice by Umno as early as July 2014.

Fan, on the other hand, viewed this as an abuse of electoral process.

He urged those who have experienced similar problems to contact Bersih.

"EC has to make the process easier for the eligible people to register," said Fan.

Ong also said EC should order the objectors to pay a RM200 maximum compensation, as compared to RM100, as deterrent.

"They should pay the compensation on the spot," he said.

EC chief Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof ( photo ) told Malaysiakini that the commission had conducted the objection process in accordance with the law.

Besides Umno, he said, PKR, PAS and DAP had also initiated their own objection process.

He was responding to questions whether Umno had abused the electoral process as alleged by the opposition members.

When asked about the possibility of imposing stricter requirements for the objection, he disagreed.

EC needs to strike a balance between registration of voters and the process of objections, he said.

"If we are too strict, they will not be happy either, then we will be criticised for not allowing people to object the registration of voters.

"So, it is the law. We must follow the law," Aziz said.

Malaysiakini is still trying to contact Selangor Umno chief Noh Omar and secretary Budiman Zoldi for their comments.

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