The Election Commission today promised to take action on phantom voters, but only if they are caught with their hands in the cookie jar, or ballot box literally.

NONE"If there are phantom voters, get their names or their identity card numbers or their photos early, and let (the EC) verify this,” said EC chief Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof.

"If they are caught red-handed trying to impersonate a voter, then we will take action, catch them and hand them over to the police," he told reporters in Merlimau.

However, he said that he hopes that those who live outside of Merlimau, who have returned for the polls are not mistaken for phantom voters.

Earlier, at its final press conference for the Merlimau by-election campaign, PAS said that the they are prepared to nab approximately 750 people, including students, whom they allege have been offered to pose as voters tomorrow.

"Our polling agents are ready with the details of these people, we know what time they are coming and where.

"We do not have MyKad readers but we are prepared," said PAS elections director Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman.

Meanwhile, when asked on allegations of the existence of phantom voters, Deputy Premier Muhyiddin Yassin, who is in Merlimau today, dismissed the claims.

“Only Malaysiakini is playing up the issue. The EC has received no complaints," he said.

On a separate matter, Abdul Aziz said that they have received no formal complaints of graft during the Merlimau campaign while 20 police reports were lodged relating to printed campaign material and police permits for campaign events.

"It's a bit different in Malacca, and in Pahang - where the ceramah venues are side by side - but this is completely under jurisdiction of the police.

"I hope there are no incidents of bribery, but the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission officials are roaming the constituency to monitor the situation," he said.

EC clears BN of election offences

Meanwhile, the EC has brushed aside claims by PAS that the BN committed election offences over the course of the Kerdau by-election campaign.

EC deputy chief Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said PAS was mistaken in accusing BN of setting up their command centre on public premises.

He pointed out that simply because a party’s camp is set up next to a public area and uses the facilities there does not mean they are committing an offence.

“I think this is what they mean by BN using public premises,” he said at a press conference in Temerloh.

PAS vice-president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said earlier that they have handed two memorandums to the EC to voice their dissatisfaction over BN’s alleged abuse of public premises and the numerous announcements of projects and allocations, which he claimed went against the Elections Offences Act 1954.

Tuan Ibrahim said they were disappointed with the inaction of the authorities, including the EC, police and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission despite having raised the issue with them twice.

PAS claimed that the various announcements made by BN, such as the promise to make RM13,000 in cess payments to Felda settlers, were tantamount to bribery.

When asked to comment on PAS’ allegations, Wan Ahmad said that bribery, as described under the election laws, refers to buying of votes directly from voters.

“If it involves (announcements) in front of many people, not all them are voters,” he said, adding that this is an issue best handled by MACC.

Wan Ahmad however said the EC will have another meeting with party leaders and stressed that they will be vigilant in making sure vote buying does not happen on polling day tomorrow.

Results of twin by-election expected at 8pm tomorrow