PKR POLLS | PKR incumbent Julau chief Semana Sawang has disagreed with the suspension of the division’s election results, arguing that the results should be disclosed today.

The central election committee (JPP) suspended the results following a claim by deputy presidential hopeful Rafizi Ramli that the tablets used at the Julau voting centre had been compromised by “malicious software”.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Semana said a suspension exposed existing votes to risks of being manipulated.  

“I do not agree with the decision to announce the results (later), they can easily announce the results today, right here.

“Anyone can complain, that is their right. But please ensure that the data is safe and the votes will not increase or decrease,” he said when contacted.

Semana is defending his post against Julau MP Larry Sng, who is aligned with Rafizi.  

Rafizi's claim 'less than convincing'

Semana, who like Rafizi spent the day at the Julau Sports Complex where the polls were held, further disputed the latter’s claim that someone had “meddled” with the tablets earlier this afternoon.

“I did not see anyone interfering with the tablets.

“At the beginning of voting there was no problem, he (Rafizi) only made this claim towards the end of the day,” Semana alleged, adding that he was “less than convinced” about Rafizi’s “malware” claim.

Rafizi earlier claimed to have witnessed a person meddling with the tablets, which led him to discover an application called “Prey” installed in them. The anti-theft software enables users to manage thousands of devices at once, including remotely wipe data from them.

The JPP later confirmed that the app had been installed in 10 tablets at the scene, adding that this had been done physically to the tablets, which were handed over to Julau PKR at 4am this morning.

"The information received was that this app was used to delete the e-voting app, steal data, change passwords, and control the tablets from a remote computer," JPP chief Rashid Din had said in a statement.

Rashid thus announced the Julau results will be suspended until the tablets were recovered and data consolidation completed.

Julau has been under the spotlight for its drastic spike in membership on June 26, which saw its members increase from 603 to 13,549 in just one day.

Complaints of irregularities, including the registration of members of other political parties without their knowledge and using dubious addresses, have since surfaced and are being probed by the MACC.

However, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution has since cleared the division of any suspicion and contended that the membership registration process was above board.

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