PERMATANG Pauh Umno today denied that more than 800 police voters have been transferred to the parliamentary constituency ahead of the 14th general election.

Division chief Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said said there were only 929 police voters in Permatang Pauh, and if the allegation was true, the number would be higher.

“Previously, there were more than 700. So, if over 800 have been moved from the island to Permatang Pauh, then, we should have some 1,600 police voters or more, right?

“But 929 is the updated figure, the latest. That is all we have now,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Yesterday, PKR leaders revealed that they had been given an audio recording that suggested an attempt to sabotage the seat, an opposition stronghold synonymous with Pakatan Harapan and PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Penang PKR information chief and Seberang Jaya assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin said the recording was from the Umno branch election machinery.

The one-minute, 17-second recording contained parts of a speech by a man urging the audience to keep secret that more than 800 police voters from “Tanjung and Datuk Keramat, and beside Penang Road, have been moved quietly to Permatang Pauh”.

The Malaysian Insight has sent queries to state police and the Election Commission regarding PKR’s allegation, based on the audio clip.

Zaidi said perhaps, there were police officers living in or near Permatang Pauh, but stationed on the island.

“We have four police stations with quarters in Seberang Jaya, Kubang Semang, Bandar Perda and Bukit Mertajam.

“I think Dr Afif did not do any checks after receiving the recording.

“As I have said, if there was some ‘black ops’ to transfer police voters, we should have more than 929.”

Psych war

However, Zaidi did not deny the contents of the recording, when asked about the speaker telling the audience to keep the alleged transfer of police voters secret.

He said when leaders spoke to grassroots members about getting the election machinery ready, they had to lift the members’ spirit and confidence.

“We have to make our members, who will be campaigning, believe that we have a good chance. We have to give them the confidence that victory is possible.

“So, we share with them facts that only scratch the surface. The more detailed information is for the higher-ups to know.

“This is our own psych war, you see. But it seems that Dr Afif has fallen for it, too. He, too, believes we can win.”

PH parties, including PKR, have long expressed worry that GE14 would be manipulated, with voters transferred in and out of constituencies to the advantage of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

The opposition previously highlighted issues with the proposed redelineation in Selangor, as well as other concerns, like the change of voters’ polling stations.

Zaidi, in a parting remark, said PKR should be more concerned about former ally PAS.

“They should be more worried about the more than 8,000 PAS supporters not supporting PKR.”

Following the collapse of Pakatan Rakyat, the Islamist party is no longer working with PKR and DAP, and has refused to work with PH.

PAS last week officially declared that it would contest in Permatang Pauh in GE14. – February 9, 2018.