GE13: State Immigration dismisses claims of phantom voters

KUCHING: The state Immigration deputy director Hamfatullah Syawal Hamdan has refuted claims made by PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stating that there are foreigners being flown from Sarawak and Sabah into Peninsular Malaysia to become phantom voters.

During a telephone press conference witnessed by PBB media liaison member Datuk Idris Buang at the party’s headquarters here last night, he told reporters that the inflow and outflow of locals as well as foreigners for the state had been normal.

“As far as the we are concerned, there is no unusual big flow of foreigners or even locals travelling between the peninsula and Sarawak as well as Sabah,” said Hamfatullah.

On this, Idris said the Pakatan Rakyat was making such a big issue out of nothing.

“What is the big deal with people coming home to vote? It is the freedom of all citizens to take time to exercise their basic rights.

“Why should Anwar be incessant and alarmed by any movement of people? After all the votes are still secret and will remain so,” he said.

On third party’s involvement in mobilising workers, family members and such, Idris said it was up to the party. However he said the state Barisan Nasional had no knowledge of any third party doing such mobilisation.

“We believe voters who return home are genuine and registered ones. You may check with the State Secretary’s office or the Immigration Department whether there is any suspicious number of foreigners coming in and allegedly using false Mykads to vote,” he said.

Idris said Pakatan’s outcry was part of its political gimmick as well as culture of lies that insulted genuine Sarawakian and Sabahan voters.

“Many times they had insulted the intelligence of the voters by painting negative pictures of the Election Commission and the election system such as the indelible ink as well as the security of early vote ballot boxes,” he said.

Earlier this week, Anwar accused the Prime Minis­ter’s Office of being responsible for chartering flights for a large group of foreigners to fly into Peninsular Malaysia from Sarawak and Sabah to vote. He also claimed to have a copy of an e-mail pertaining to the flights as evidence.-thestar online