PRESS RELEASE
KOTA KINABALU, 15 JULY 2001

Lost ICs : PBS calls on Police and NRD to be vigilant

Kota Kinabalu, Sun. - Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) today called on the police to be on alert against irresponsible people who make reports regarding lost identity cards (ICs) for the purpose of securing temporary identification receipts with the National Registration Department.

PBS deputy president, Dr Maximus Ongkili, said in the past such reports were usually plenty during the election period because they were used by dubious voters to obtain the JPN 1/11 receipts from the NRD which would then be used for voting purposes.

"We believe that police reports on lost ICs are on the increase over the last few days. We call on the police and the NRD to be vigilant and not simply accept such reports as true without the necessary checks.

"We have also instructed our polling agents to be on the look out against the use of JPN 1/11 receipts which are temporary documents for lost or damaged ICs. If there are hundreds of these receipts used by voters then clearly there is something suspicious," he said.

Ongkili who is also Bandau member of parliament repeated PBS’ request to the Election Commission to allow only original ICs as voter identification and to disallow the use of JPN 1/11 (temporary receipts for lost or damaged ICs) and JPN 1/22 (temporary receipts for replacement ICs).

"In the past these receipts have been grossly abused and used illegally for voting purposes. Many of these receipts are usually obtained through false police reports or simply given illegally by false ICs syndicates and irresponsible NRD officers," he claimed.

On the EC’s advice to political parties not to block voters on polling day, Ongkili responded that PBS supporters are fully aware of the election laws and will always be law abiding.

"However, we stress that government agencies involved in conducting the election especially EC, NRD and security officials and must be fair, responsible and transparent. They must not take side or act to favour a particular group of voters over another group. To do so would be to took for trouble," he stressed.

Ongkili added that the public has the responsibility to alert the EC and the police on polling day regarding the identities of non-citizens attempting to vote, adding "our polling agents will be on the look out for the names of some 5,000 dubious voters submitted to the EC which we objected over the years and still in the Likas roll."