WEE Ka Siong has refuted claims that he did not win the Ayer Hitam parliamentary seat fairly, adding his slim majority of 303 votes was due to support and not “procedural impropriety” on the part of the Election Commission.

MCA deputy president defeated Johor DAP leader Liew Chin Tong on May 9.

Liew on Tuesday filed a petition at the Johor Bahru Civil High Court to challenge the results.

In a statement today, Wee said as the ballots cast and returned in the Ayer Hitam parliamentary seat tally with those in its two state seats under it, he questioned why an election petition was not filed for the state seats as well.

There are two state seats under the Ayer Hitam constituency: Yong Peng and Semarang. A total of 39,485 ballot papers were issued for both seats; 21,113 for Yong Peng and 18,372 for Semarang. The total number of ballot papers cast was 39,393; meaning 92 ballot papers were issued but not cast.

Wee said the figures are similar to Ayer Hitam parliamentary seat as a whole whereby a total of 39,474 ballot papers were issued with only 39,380 cast, leaving 94 ballot papers issued but not cast. As for the spoilt votes, the two state seats combined see 542 spoilt votes whilst 556 for Ayer Hitam parliamentary seat, a mere difference of 14 votes between the two.

“It is not difficult to see that the ballot papers tally of the state seats corresponds with the parliamentary seat,” he said, adding that there are 13 fewer votes cast in the parliamentary seat than the two state seats combined.

“The so-called 2,478 phantom votes alleged by certain irresponsible parties is absurd. Otherwise, for the interest of justice and electoral fairness, why aren’t Yong Peng and Semarang election result being challenged by the losing candidates?”

“Chin Tong said (the petition) was to point out certain procedural impropriety (and) to push for reform of the electoral system,” he said.

Wee added that reforms should be done through the EC and the administrative system instead of through the judicial system.

Wee said he is taking the Hari Raya break to compile relevant data and statistics of the Ayer Hitam parliamentary constituency for analysis purposes.

“This will henceforth stop those trying hard to discredit me whilst insulting the choice of my constituents by alleging instances of phantom votes.”

“I won the seat legitimately through many years of hard work and commitment in the Ayer Hitam constituency. Nevertheless, I acknowledge that the loser has his right to file a petition. Fret not, the truth will prevail.” – June 16, 2018