Electoral reform coalition Bersih today questioned the Election Commission's move to allow transfer of 32 alleged "phantom voters" into an address in Bukit Baru, Malacca, a state seat under the Bukit Katil parliamentary constituency.

At a press conference today, Bersih outreach officer Chan Tsu Chong revealed that this was based on the electoral roll gazetted in the fourth quarter of last year.

Based on Bersih's visit to the site, Chan said they discovered that it was an address for a one-storey corner lot house.

"One of the definitions of phantom voters are voters who do not reside at the address they are registered in," he said.

The exact address is recorded as No 1, Jalan SJ1, Taman Saujana Jaya, Bukit Katil.

"The main question here is whether the 32 still have ties with Malacca," he said.

In raising the question, Chan pointed out that the Bukit Baru state seat was only won by PAS' Md Khalid Kassim in the last 13th general election with a 48-vote majority.

He further revealed that another 41 voters were also newly registered or transferred to another address in Bukit Baru, identified only by the street name, Batu 4 1/2, Kampung Bukit Beruang, with no exact house number.

Discovery made two weeks ago

In Bukit Bachang, another state seat under Bukit Katil, Chan said 46 new voters had a registered address at Batu 2 1/2 Solok Musai, similarly with no exact house or building number.

Asked whether any objections were recorded against the voters, Chan said Bersih was not aware of this, as the discovery was only made two weeks ago and the electoral roll has since been gazetted.

However, he pointed out, the EC has a duty to review the supplementary electoral role every three months, based on information from the National Registration Department.

"If the registrar is not satisfied, the EC has the power to remove the names," he said, adding that ordinary voters can also voice their objections based on public displays of the roll.

Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah, meanwhile, noted that the discovery followed similar problems identified in Johor and Selangor, previously raised by Mengkibol assemblyperson Tan Hong Pin and Sekinchan assemblyperson Ng Suee Lim.

"Bersih expects more electoral fraud cases to surface as the forthcoming general election draws closer," said Maria, who also announced the launch of a hotline (011-11313803) for voters to lodge their complaints on related issues.

Ng had in February revealed that the latest electoral roll had indicated 358 new voters are living in nine houses at a tranquil village in his constituency.