Phantom issue revisited

(The Star) – Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin suspects there could be a “dalang” (mastermind) within the Election Commission (EC) who was helping the Opposition register phantom voters in Permatang Pasir.

He said he believed the mastermind was responsible for allegedly transferring a large number of voters on the electoral roll.

“I urge the EC to ensure there are no phantom voters on the electoral roll.

“Our Penang Umno Youth chief Norman Zahalan claims there could be 3,000 phantom voters in Permatang Pasir, which is a serious allegation,” he said during a Pentas Pemuda ceramah in Jalan Kubang Semang on Thursday night.

Preparation: EC worker Mohd Faizal Abbas arranging some props for the upcoming by-election in Permatang Pasir Saturday.

Khairy said the EC should initiate investigations and appoint a committee to study the complaint lodged by Penang Umno Youth on Wednesday.

He said the Opposition should give an explanation into the existence of phantom voters, noting that in most cases, the original house occupants and the phantom voters did not know each other.

Khairy said that in a particular case, there were 15 registered voters in a house, o f whom t he occupants could only identify eight genuine voters.

“There are also Chinese names registe red at houses owned by Malays,” he said.

Khairy said that if previously the Opposition stopped busloads of Barisan Nasional election workers and claimed they were phantom voters, Umno Youth should reciprocate this time around.