Bersih: Johor MB in breach of NRD rules

Johor Menteri Besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin has likely violated National Registration Department (NRD) rules by using his service centre address as his MyKad address, said electoral reforms pressure group Bersih.

Citing Regulation 15 of the National Registration Regulations 1990 (Amendment 2007), Bersih leader Maria Chin Abdullah pointed out that the MyKad address must be a place of residence.

According to Regulation 15, a MyKad holder residing in a new place for more than 90 days must have this change of address reflected on the MyKad.

Khaled had told Malaysiakini that his MyKad address was replaced with the address of the Pasir Gudang Umno division headquarters in Taman Rinting, Masai last year.

This new address was then used to change his voter details. However, the crux of the issue, as exposed by Johor Pakatan Harapan yesterday, was that Khaled shared the same address with 13 other voters.

Maria pointed out that Form A, which was to be filled by those wishing to change their address on the voter list, under Regulation 12 of the Elections (Registration of Electors) Regulations 2002, stipulate that the address must be the same as the MyKad address.

EC must remedy situation

She said that while what Khaled was doing was not necessarily illegal, his intentions were "questionable".

"This is outright manipulation of the electoral roll and obvious abuse of power as he is taking advantage of the Election Commission's weak processes for his own interest. 

"It is unacceptable that EC is allowing such abuses to happen. The EC must take responsibility and immediately correct the situation," said Maria.

As for Khaled, Maria said he should lead by example by correcting the address on the MyKad and informing the EC of his change in address. 

Yesterday, Mengkibol state assemblyperson Tan Hong Pin filed a complaint to the EC on hundreds of allegedly dubious voter records in Johor, including Khaled's, that was detected in the electoral roll for the fourth quarter of 2016, that is currently on display.

According to Tan, who was acting on behalf of Johor DAP and Johor Harapan, there were many suspicious changes in addresses to constituencies where BN faced stiff competition during the last general election. - Mkini