Pairin : PBS is the true champion of citizen's rights

KOTA KINABALU – PBS President, Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan, in a statement said PBS is on record as the true champion of citizens’ rights and a towering figure in the fight to clean the electoral roll.

He said Datuk Yong Teck Lee’s three-point formula on phantom voters is nothing but mere election gimmick, a desperate last attempt, if you like, to hoodwink Likas voters.

He said Yong’s proposal has no merit since there is already a Joint Committee on Illegal Immigrants formed by the State Assembly as proposed by PBS to deal with issue of fake ICs and phantom voters.

"All Sabah political parties are well represented in the Joint Committee, which is functioning well and there is no need for another SAPP sponsored Joint Committee on phantom voters," he said.

He said he has serious doubt as to whether Datuk Yong was a serious advocate of a clean electoral roll.

"If he was serious he could have done so in his 7 years tenure as State Assemblyman, State Minister and now Member of Parliament under Barisan Nasional"

"What is he trying to achieve now that he is no longer the Chief Minister or even a Minister?" he asked.

"If he is merely talking to the press or writing memorandum to bring the issue to the Federal government, then the opposition is doing a better job," he said.

"Contrary to claims by Yong, it is now PBS efforts that are showing results," he said.

"The party is on record as the only political party that meticulously studies the electoral roll and consistently makes objections to the Election Commission to clean the electoral roll."

The former Chief Minister said PBS Members of Parliament and State Assemblymen never stopped voicing out public concerns on the issue of phantom voters in Parliament and the State Assembly.

He said PBS fight against phantom voters is not mere rhetoric.

Citing the recent arrest of village heads suspected of issuing fake documents to foreigners, he said PBS leaders have acted boldly on many instances by making police reports against suspected illegal syndicates issuing fake identification cards to foreigners.

He said PBS has submitted memorandum to the Election Commission pointing out specific weaknesses or anomalies in the electoral roll, especially weaknesses in the voter registration or objection procedures.

He said PBS senior leaders have met officials of the Election Commission, including the Chairman, on several occasions to highlight irregularities in the electoral roll.

He said PBS has received written answers and assurances from time to time by the Election Commission, but the fight against phantom voter must continue until we are satisfied that the electoral roll is clean.

He said PBS is sincere in its effort to rid the country of phantom voters and the related problem of illegal immigrants and fake identity cards.

"PBS proposed the formation of the Joint Committee on Illegal Immigrants involving all political parties from opposite sides of the bench and various State and Federal agencies to resolve the overriding issue of illegal immigrants, fake IC and phantom voters."

As part of it larger campaign to clean the electoral roll, PBS has also instituted more than 10 election petitions to expose phantom voters in the electoral roll also to expose other electoral frauds during election.

He said other election petitions might have been dismissed on doubtful grounds, but the landmark decision by the High Court judge to nullify the 1998 electoral roll for Likas clearly vindicated PBS stand on the issue of phantom voters.

"It is also a tribute to the thousands of PBS members and supporters who stood firmly behind PBS in the face of the seemingly insurmountable problem of tainted electoral roll."

Datuk Pairin commended the party’s Likas candidate, Dr. Chong Eng Leong and his legal team for job well done.

"They worked day and night collecting and documenting evidence during the court hearing with the help of other able and dedicated PBS leaders," he said.

However, he cautioned that the issue of phantom voters does not end with the court judgement against Datuk Yong Teck Lee.

He concurred with the High Court judge that the issue is only the tip of the iceberg.

"The main issue in this by-election is still the presence of phantom voters in the electoral roll," he said.

"Our election agenda is to clean the electoral and to stop the phantom voters.

Pairin invited all citizens to join in the fight against phantom voters saying that PBS can not fight the war without the support of the people.

"The phantom voter must be stopped because they pose a serious threat to future wellbeing of our children.

"This election must be treated as a referendum for the people of Sabah to register their protest against the presence of phantom voters in the electoral roll," he said.

He said victory for the opposition in the Likas by-election will send a strong message to the Election Commission and the federal authorities to clean the electoral roll.