Saturday, 04 May 2013 07:35
UMNO:
Yes, we fly-in voters; EC: So what?
Amid
the shocking revelation that tens of thousands of dubious voters were being
flown in by chartered flights from East Malaysia to the Peninsular in time for
Sunday's polls, both UMNO and the Election Commission have defended the act.UMNO secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor admitted that such flights were planned and paid by “friends of BN”, but insisted that the voters were legitimate and bringing them in was normal electoral practice.
“The flights in question were organised and paid for by friends of Barisan Nasional. They brought registered voters to their home districts so that they may vote in the upcoming election,” he was quoted as saying.
Adnan, who is currently facing a stiff challenge from PAS vice president Husam Musa in Putrajaya, also dismissed accusations that the Prime Minister’s Office was involved in the massive transfer of people.
Yesterday, Anwar claimed he had proofs to show how foreign nationals and Malaysians from Sabah and Sarawak had been flown in to Peninsula Malaysia. He pointed out that there had been a sudden surge of 'foreign workers' arriving from Thailand, Cambodia, Pakistan and Myanmar through the northern border at Bukit Kayu Hitam, Port Klang and other entry points.
"The timing of this surge in arrivals and its sheer size naturally raises the question of whether they have been transported here surreptitiously to vote in favour of Barisan Nasional," Anwar said, and demanded explanation from the parties involved including the Election Commission, Inspector General of Police, Chief of the Armed Forces, Director-General of Immigration and Director-General of the National Registration Department.
The EC has meantime come to UMNO’s defence on the matter, with its chairman Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof saying there is nothing it could do to stop the flights.
“Even if it’s true, what’s wrong? Shall we stop the flights and stop people from coming back?” news portal The Malaysian Insider quoted him.
-Harakahdaily
