THE Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) today demanded that the Election Commission (EC) explain why several voters have been shifted from the constituencies they were registered in without their consent.

Bersih said the lack of clarity in the process and the unannounced changes will affect the people’s trust in the EC and more worryingly in the election process.

The election watchdog said in a statement it had received a number of complaints from people who claimed the state and parliamentary constituencies they were registered in have been changed without their knowledge and consent.

It stated two cases in Sabah and one in Selangor.

Bersih said the two Sabah voters in the last general election in 2018 and in the state polls in 2020 had cast their votes in the Tawau parliamentary and Sri Tanjong state constituencies.

However, they claimed that they now have been shifted to the Kalabakan parliamentary and Merotai state constituencies.

In Selangor, Bersih said, Batu PKR Batu deputy chairman Rozan Azen Mat Rasip had also claimed that four voters in the branch have found that they are now voters in the parliamentary constituencies of Gombak, Wangsa Maju and Kepong.

Bersih said from its investigations into the claims, none of the complainants had requested such a change under section 12A of the Election (Registration of Electors) Regulations 2002.

Under that section, a voter who wants to change his polling place, needs to file in a completed Form A – to change their address – to the EC.

In the PKR Batu branch case, Bersih also questioned why Rozan was arrested and handcuffed by the police and investigated under section 282 of the penal code.

“What is the reason for Rozan’s arrest if he is only helping voters to check their voting status and location?

“If there is a change of voting place without the consent of the voter, the police should instead investigate the mastermind behind the change instead of arresting the complainant,” it said. – October 15, 2022.