Cover image via AP / SAYSIf you or anyone you know receive a letter notifying you of a 'bantahan' (objection) against having your name listed in the electoral register, particularly one from the Office of Elections (Pejabat Pilihan Raya) of the state you registered to vote in, it is important that you do not brush it off
Image via Zhi Peng's Facebook
Detailing his experience on Facebook, newly-registered voter Zhi Peng received such a letter on 14 August requesting his attendance at a public inquiry on Thursday morning, 20 August at Kompleks PKNS Shah Alam
Image via Zhi Peng's Facebook
The letter states that if he does not appear at the inquiry, there is a possibility of his name being removed from the Rang Daftar Pemilih Tambahan (RDPT)
Image via Zhi Peng's Facebook
Also attached to the letter is a particular Borang D, an official notice to the person of whom the objection made, that states the person's full name, IC number, address, and most importantly, the reason behind the 'bantahan'.
In Zhi Peng's case, the 'bantahan' filed against him was due to some alleged discrepancies in regards to his identification and/or registered address.
Image via Zhi Peng's Facebook
He wrote, "My registration application to have my name entered into the electoral register was challenged and the reason given was '*Pemilih tidak dapat dikenal pasti/tidak tinggal di alamat yang didaftarkan*' (Voter cannot be identified/does not live in registered address).
From the get go, a red flag was raised because **I have been living in this address for the past 10 years. The fact that I received the letter alone was enough to disprove this.**
And what does '*pemilih tidak dapat dikenal pasti*' even mean? **They had my I/C number, full name and full address stated in the Borang D** as well, if still '*tidak dapat dikenal pasti*' then how else?"
When he arrived at the hearing, Zhi Peng found out that not only newly-registered voters were being challenged and required to show up for a public inquiry, veteran voters were being called up for alleged discrepancies too
Image via Zhi Peng's Facebook
He was also perplexed as to why a random person was willing to put him through all this trouble, especially since the 'pembantah' did not even raise any solid points to back up his 'bantahan'. The judge eventually threw out the case due to insufficient evidence, but Zhi Peng remarked that the whole thing felt "so scripted".
Image via Zhi Peng's Facebook
He also pointed out that the complainant has filed objections against 4 or 5 other people, but only 2 have turned up, exposing the rest to the possibility of having their names removed from the electoral registry by default
Image via Zhi Peng's Facebook
Worryingly, Zhi Peng's account isn't an isolated case.
On 18 August, Malaysiakini reported that about 30 newly-registered voters from some constituencies in Selangor were ordered to attend a hearing by the EC following a protest against their electoral legitimacy by a group alleged to be UMNO members.
Image via Tiew Way Keng / Malaysiakini
DAP Teratai assemblyperson Tiew Way Keng speculated that this may just be the "tip of the iceberg", saying that more complaints may be filed against newly-registered voters in other constituencies
Image via Twitter @TiewWayKeng
Pointing out that newly-registered voters in her constituency are facing similar complaints too, PKR Rawang assemblyperson Gan Pei Nei said that these incidents might obstruct people from registering as voters
Image via Gan Pei Nei
On the other hand, Datuk Mohd Shamsuddin Lias – formerly of BN-UMNO, said that it is common for political parties to check the electoral roll and challenge newly-registered voters whom are thought to be dubious, which he explained is their legitimate right to do so
Image via The Malaysian Insider
