253 postal voters in Bagan Pinang are found to be voters in other places outside Bagan Pinang as well, claimed PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali.

bagan pinang by-election 011009 mustafa ali to ec"Their names appeared in the Bagan Pinang electoral roll as well as in other places outside Bagan Pinang," said Mustafa.

"We found out the overlapping list days ago, but it was after the election commission had approved the voters' list," he told a press after a two-hour meeting with Election Commission chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof.

He added that PAS had originally considered taking out an injunction to prevent the 253 from voting but conceded that it was not practical as postal voting starts tomorrow.

"We will consult our lawyers. Whatever action we take now can affect future by-elections," he said.

The EC admitted the error but was unaware of it when approving the electoral roll, added Mustafa.

No powers to stop voters

"The EC told me that they do not have legal powers to stop the 253 from voting as the list has been gazzetted."

Mustafa also said that the EC had agreed to increase the number of polling agents to eight from the original one.

"It is not a 100 percent confirmation because the matter is still being discussed. The EC will give us an answer latest by tomorrow.

"One polling agent is definitely unacceptable," he said.

He also called on the EC to bar army officers from voting on behalf of their wives or hold on to their wives' ballot papers.

"The postal voting process involves both the army officer and his wife. There is no excuse for the wife not to vote.

"The EC agrees that the wife must be present to vote. They were also receptive to all the changes we requested," he said.

The by-election for the state seat will see PAS' Zulkefly Mohamad Omar take on favourite BN's Isa Samad on Oct 11.

There are 4,600 postal voters who make up more than a third of the electorate in the constituency.