Signatures For Tun M's Citizens’ Declaration Were Apparently "Stolen" From A Database
The Citizens' Declaration has managed to gather 1.2 million signatures in just two months.
By Nandini Balakrishnan — 27 May 2016, 12:52 PM
In an interesting turn of events, a local programmer claims to have been paid to obtain personal information of more than one million Malaysians to be used as signatories in the Citizens' Declaration
Freelance programmer Azharuddin Othman showing the text messages between him and one
Image via MalaysiakiniAzharuddin Othman, 30, alleged that he was contacted by an individual on April 27, who promised him RM5,000 in return.
In his SD, the programmer also said he was informed that former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad did not want his name to be dragged into the "lie".
"I knew the person (who offered him the money) from a friend and we had met before. Our communication (for the transaction) was also not the first time," he told reporters.
malaysiakini.com
"She (Ema) said, the information was needed by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for the Citizens’ Declaration which will be submitted to the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong," explained Azharuddin.
Former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad spearheaded the Citizens' Declaration movement to oust Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak
Image via The Wall Street JournalAzharuddin said that he was asked to submit the information to an individual named "Ema" through an email, as reported by Astro Awani yesterday, 26 May.
The programmer was brought in by the Declaration's opponent, former PKR Rembau chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin,or popularly known as Chegubard.
"Ema also admitted the data needs to be manipulated quickly to meet the targeted figure," Azharuddin told a press conference here.
The Terengganu-born freelance programmer revealed that he obtained the information from a database that was used during the 13th General Elections in May 2013.
The database is said to contain all the full names and MyKad details of thousands of Malaysians.
Azharuddin claimed that only 300,000 of the 1.2 million signatures were not from his list.
The rest of the names were from the electoral database which he, as a part-time computer programmer, had used in his work with political parties for elections.
"Ema had prior knowledge that I had a massive database of information on millions of Malaysians which could be suited for various needs and requirements," he told a press conference at a restaurant in Lembah Pantai today.
"From the very beginning I have said that Mahathir and his 'cartel' will never change. They will do anything to achieve their ambitions," said suspended PKR member, 'Chegubard'.
Former PKR supreme council member Badrul Hisham Shaharin aka Chegubard
Image via The Malay Mail OnlineMeanwhile, Badrul Hisham Shaharin, who was also present at the press conference, described the matter as embarrassing.
Popularly referred to as Chegubard, the Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) chief said he "sympathised" with the leaders and supporters who had been duped.
malaysiakini.com
Dr Mahathir recently announced that the declaration has gathered its target of 1.2 million signatures in a short span of just two months
Here's everything you need to know about the ambitious Citizens' Declaration that aims to oust PM Najib Razak: