PR rejects use of biometrics by EC

 YELLOW SATURDAY: Pakatan Rakyat members in yellow attire on Saturday at the DAP Piasau service centre.

 Dr. Michael Teo PKR Miri Branch Chairman

MIRI: Barisan Nasional (BN)’s argument that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) could not have won five states during the 12th general election in 2008 if the elections were not clean and fair is only half-truth.

PKR communications director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad reasoned: “If the Election Commission (EC) and election processes were completely fair and clean, we might have won more.”

Nik Nazmi said this on Saturday at a press conference held at the DAP Piasau Service Centre here to make clear PR’s stand on the EC’s use of biometrics technology to register voters.

He told the reporters present that PR had rejected the use of biometrics since day one.

In fact, PAS spiritual advisor Nik Aziz had also rejected the use of biometrics when it was first introduced by the EC for its voter-registration exercise.

“EC kept rejecting the use of the proven indelible ink solution which we have been championing. They are now introducing the unproven biometrics technology even though we did not ask for it,” he said.

Among those present were PKR Miri chief Dr Michael Teo, state PKR Youth secretary Zulhaidah Suboh, state PKR Youth political bureau chief Abun Sui Anyit, DAP assemblymen Fong Pau Teck (Pujut) and Alan Ling Sie Kiong (Piasau).

Nik Nazmi said PR was worried that the biometrics system would be abused, especially on foreign workers.
“In states like Selangor with a large foreign workforce, this may lead to many foreign permanent resident (PR) holders suddenly getting MyKads,” alleged Nazmi, who is also Seri Setia assemblyman.

Meanwhile, Nik Nazmi and his PR colleagues vowed to continue holding “Yellow Saturdays”, where PR supporters will wear yellow attire every Saturday, to press home the need for fair and clean elections.