KOTA KINABALU – Warisan information chief Datuk Azis Jamman accused PBS president Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili of being “senile” for blaming Warisan for the movement of voters in certain areas, which led to a spike in numbers in the electoral roll in some of Sabah’s federal seats.
Azis said Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), as part of the Sabah government, should have the upper hand in acquiring evidence on the alleged inclusion of illegal immigrants in the voters’ list.
He also said GRS currently had better access to information from the National Registration Department (NRD).
“The incumbent home minister, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, is a Perikatan Nasional member. Hamzah holds power over NRD and therefore should be able to identify dubious voters,” he told The Vibes.
Azis was responding to Ongkili’s speech during a GRS tour in Tenom last Saturday (October 22), in which the latter accused Warisan of being involved in moving voters within the state. He also threatened to file a police report on the matter.
Ongkili said the Kota Marudu seat alone saw an increase of 33,470 voters, from 47,007 in the previous election to the current total of 80,477.
“This was supposed to be an increase for the 18-year-olds (new voters), but the voters’ list also has the elderly (who are) not from Kota Marudu.”
“We believe that Warisan is involved in moving the voters, and we will lodge a police report,” Ongkili said.
Azis stressed that Warisan, as the former Sabah government, never had the authority to issue MyKad, as it is under the purview of a federal department.
He added that the Pas Sementara Sabah was proposed by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who was the home minister when PH led the federal government.
Last week, Warisan president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal urged the Election Commission to provide an explanation after a Sabah Bersatu leader recently raised concerns over a supposedly large and irregular number of ethnic Indians in Kudat.
Shafie said the NRD must conduct a thorough check to correct any potential mistakes.
In December last year, assistant minister to the chief minister and Sabah Star vice-president, Datuk Abidin Madingkir, confirmed that Warisan had never issued MyKad to irregular migrants in Sabah.
Abidin told the Sabah state assembly that the state government does not have the authority to issue an identification card to any individual.
During the PBS congress last July, Ongkili claimed that a BN party had given identity cards to undocumented migrants in exchange for votes.
He did not disclose the name of the party but said it was identified in the royal commission of inquiry on migrants in Sabah. –The Vibes, October 24, 2022
