The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH 2.0) is greatly concerned about the implications of a disproportionate increase of voters from the ethnic group associated with the dominant ruling party in marginal seats, compared with demographic trends.

 

According to the latest findings of Malaysian Electoral Roll Analysis Project (MERAP), voter registration from first quarter to third quarter 2013 in 13 marginal federal seats in Pahang, Perak, Selangor, Johor and KL is skewed towards the Malays, leaving the non-Malays disenfranchised.

 

• In Perak, Malays comprised 78% of the new voters whereas they only constitute 48% of the total number of voters in the state in GE13. 
• In Negeri Sembilan, it was 83% vs 53%.

 

This is a significant development as voter registration is a key battleground for political parties during the period in between elections. The more supporters a party can register, the greater its chance of securing a high proportion of the vote. 

 

New voters comprise a significant portion of the voting populace. In GE13, 2.6 million Malaysians registered to cast their ballots for the first time, roughly 20% of eligible voters. An estimated four million Malaysians will attain the age of majority by the next general election.

 

So, can the Election Commission explain these anomalies in the voter registration trends?

 

If not, BERSIH 2.0 has a possible answer.

 

While the EC has decided not to renew the terms of Assistant Registration Officers (AROs) from political parties, government agencies – in particular Jabatan Hal Ehwal Khas (JASA) – have maintained their ARO status and it is clear this is a cover to allow BN parties, especially UMNO, to continue their voter registration exercises, while denying other political parties the same right. 

 

BERSIH 2.0 has been able to link 35 of the 52 AROs under JASA Johor with BN, PERKASA or the BN-linked NGO Gerakan Belia 4B (see the list below).

 

Further, the AROs listed on the Melaka EC website (see below) were only those from UMNO and another BN component party, Indian Progressive Front (IPF).

 

Such a bias recalls the ‘boast’ of former EC chairperson Rashid A Rahman who is also the current PERKASA vice-president, of his skills in keeping the Malays in power as well as his mission to “champion Malay rights and ensure the Malays retain political power” when he held office.

 

This begs the question: Is it business as usual today? Is the EC fighting the battle for UMNO in the run-up to the 14^th General Election?

 

Issued by,
The Steering Committee of BERSIH 2.0, which consists of –

Chairperson: Maria Chin Abdullah; Deputy Chairperson: Sarajun Hoda Abdul Hassan; Treasurer: Masjaliza Hamzah; national representatives: Assoc. Prof. Dr Abdul Halim B Yusof, Farhana BT Abdul Halim, Fadiah Nadwa Fikri and New Sin Yew; vice-chairpersons: Jannie Lasimbang (Sabah), Ahmad b. Awang Ali (Sarawak), Abd Halim b. Wan Ismail (East Peninsula), Thomas Fann (South Peninsula), Simon Lee Ying Wai (Central Peninsula) and Dato’ Dr Toh Kin Woon (North Peninsula).

 

Melaka EC website

 

AROs under JASA Johor 

and their connections with the ruling party

 

	Names of AROs under JASA Johor	Link to BN, BN-linked NGOs
1	ABDULL HALID B SAAT	SETIAUSAHA UMNO BAHAGIAN AYER HITAM
2	FATIMAH BT JAFFAR	Ahli Umno Cawangan Sri Jasa
3	FAUZANI B SALUB	Ketua Pemuda UMNO Bahagian Ayer Hitam
4	MD SAID B MASHOR	UMNO Parit Sulong AJK Bahagian
5	NUR WASILAH BT SIAM	Naib Ketua AJK Wirawati Perkasa Johor
6	SEH HADI B AWAB	Ahli UMNO Pt Sulong
7	ZAINALFITRI MOHAMED	Pemuda UMNO Batu Pahat
8	AMINAH BT SAHAK	Ketua Puteri UMNO Tebrau
9	JAMALUDDIN B SAMUT	Setiausaha UMNO Bahagian Gelang Patah
10	KHIROL ANUAR B BASRAH	AJK Wira Perkasa Johor Setiausaha
11	NAJAHAN B MASKOM	Pengerusi Biro Pendidikan UMNO Bahagian Pasir Gudang
12	NORWATI BT ABD MANAF	Ketua Penerangan AJK Wirawati Perkasa Johor
13	SITI ZALEHA BT ABDULLAH	AJK Pengerusi Biro Kursus & Latihan Organasi Pergerakan Wanita UMNO Bhgn Gelang Patah
14	SULIMAN B ZAKARIA	Calon UMNO Bahagian Pulai 2011
15	NORHAFIZAH BT MOHAMED ‘@ MOH NAIM	Ketua Puteri UMNO Sembrong
16	TENG SHUEU MEI	MCA Johor Youth Committee Member
17	NURUL AZLIN BT SHA’ARI	UMNO KETUA PUTERI CAWANGAN TELUK EMPANG
18	OMAR B UYOB	2013 Calon AJK UMNO Bahagian Kota Tinggi
19	ROSNAH BT A. TALIB	Ahli UMNO Tenggara
20	MOHAMAD ISLAHUDDIN B ABAS	Pro-UMNO blogger
21	MD NOR B BACHOK	Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pemilihan UMNO Bahagian Muar
22	MOHD RADZI B AMIN	Ketua Perg. Pemuda UMNO Caw. Sri Serdang Bhgn. Bakri
23	NAZRI B RUSLI	Ketua Gerakan Belia 4B Cawangan Tanjung Kesangom
24	ROHAIZAH BT AHMAD	Ketua Puteri UMNO Pagoh
25	ROSLI B OTHMAN	Ketua Wiranita AJK Perkasa Daerah Segamat
26	TAN CHUN BOON	Ahli MCA Johor
27	ZAMRI B MD RAYA	Ketua Penerangan Gerakan Belia 4B Kawasan Ledang
28	AZIZUL B BACHOK	UMNO AJK Bahagian Tebrau 2008-2011 Biro Agama Naib Pengerusi
29	NOR FADILLAH BT PAJAR	Ketua Puteri UMNO Bahagian Pulai
30	KHAIRIL HAFIZ B RAHAMAT	Ketua Pemuda UMNO Parit Raja 2009
31	NOOR AZUA IRMAN BT ABDUL HAMID	Ketua Puteri UMNO Tanjung Piai
32	ROSDI B HASSAN	Penolong Setiausaha Pemuda UMNO Pontian
33	AZMI B MADON	Naib Ketua UMNO Bahagian Segamat
34	SUHAIMI B ABD KADIR	Ketua Penerangan AJK UMNO Bahagian Sekijang
35	TAN TIAN CHAI	MCA Labis “Person in Charge”
36	KEE CHIN HIONG	TBU (to be uncovered)
37	MARDI B NGADINO	TBU
38	MOHD ARIFFIN B ABDULLAH	TBU
39	MOHD FARHAN B ALI	TBU
40	SALLEH B MOHD YUSOF	TBU
41	JASMANI B HADIS	TBU
42	MOHAMAD NIAZI B ISMAIL	TBU
43	MUNALIZA BT MISNI	TBU
44	AZIZAN B ALI	TBU
45	MD HODARI B ABU RAHIM	TBU
46	MELIZAH BT ALI	TBU
47	BAHRIN B TALIB	TBU
48	MOHD SYAIFUL RAHMAN B M. SAJUDI	TBU
49	MUHAMAD SEH B KAMIS	TBU
50	ZA’ABA B MOHON	TBU
51	MOHD YUSRI B EMARAN	TBU
52	SUZEYLIANA BT SULAIMAN	TBU