Electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 along with the Malaysian Electoral Roll Analysis Project (Merap), while conducting checks on the electoral rolls nationwide, have spotted several abnormalities in Sabah as verified by the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on  illegal settlers in the East Malaysian state.

“An example of the abnormalities involves the identity card (IC) number of the voter and the dubious ICs, cases which have been verified by the RCI.

“There is a case in Sandakan where a voter named Mainah Takait was registered twice with the same address despite  two different IC numbers,” said Bersih today.

In a statement, Bersih said the 306-page RCI report notes, "...there is ample evidence that settlers not Malaysian citizens are given blue ICs illegally by syndicates or certain individuals who register them as voters using fake ICs".

Bersih 2.0 therefore reiterates that the authorities need to act and immediately clamp on the problem as stated in the RCI report.

Merap has also detected abnormalities in the Sabah electoral roll, where 80 percent of voters in certain districts comprised Bugis, Bajau, Malays and Suluk when the ethnic majority group should be Kadazan Dusun.

“Merap also noticed that several electoral districts, like Sepanggar and Putatan, are flooded by foreign voters who have questionable citizenship. Those two areas have voters who are Indonesians, Filipino, Pakistan and Suluk and this is strange,” Bersih said.

'Sijil Anak Negeri' conundrum

Bersih added it would also like to know what happened to the secretariat  formed after the RCI report to take action on the matter.

“We took cognisance of the fact that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission was investigating the fake 'Sijil Anak Negeri' Sabah. There has been no action despite many complaints made.”

Bersih was concerned over the integrity of the National Registration Department (NRD), the main body which issues ICs, and its links with the 'Project IC' as outlined in the RCI report.

“Hence, we strongly urge that the RCI not be made a futile exercise and action be taken on the abnormalities in the electoral roll, involving the NRD and the MACC.”

“Bersih will continue to have field audits at various strategic areas by visiting  registered voters and attending to complaints of voters being electorally moved without any valid reason,” Bersih said.