The numbers are about right - 951 voters were deleted from Permatang Pauh and replaced by another 961 since the 12th GE. But the reasons were technical and not too sinister. Still, the whole confusing affair highlights the needs for SPR transparency and voter registration reform.
Background: PKR has complained that about 900 voters were "missing." SPR is indignant.
PKR complained that (http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/88268): "The names of 900 voters are missing from the electoral roll for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency. The names were in the last electoral role and the voters were eligible to cast their ballots in the 12th general election." SPR's reply (http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/88553): "Explaining on the 868 names which went ‘missing' in the ‘updated' roll, Kamaruzaman [of SPR] clarified today that there were only 158 names which were removed in the latest roll. The reasons why these names were removed among others include ‘wrong' voters registration, deaths, those who aged above 100 and deemed fit by the EC to remove their names from the roll on the presumption that they have passed away." More: "SPR Can't Explain 949 Missing Voter Names," Chinese language article by MerdekaReview.com. (Machine translation. Please note that machine translation provides only a "gist" translation; the result will contain funny translation mistakes.) |
Our investigation did find that 951 voters were "deleted" after the 12 GE in Permatang Pauh, while another 961 voters were "added" to the by-election roll dated 2008 Jul.
But we also found that these changes were due to three not-too-cynical reasons and minor SPR mistakes:
- The technicality of modifying police IC numbering scheme,
- Regular voter registrations, inward and outward movements, and
- SPR's dead-voter deletion overdrive.
- First, let police and military voters switch to a 12-digit civilian IC to simplify verification, update, and avoid duplicate registrations.
- Second, make voter registration automatic with MyKad status at the NRIC Department. Meanwhile, make NRIC accountable to the parliament, to prevent Sabah-like IC mess,
- Third, make SPR more transparent with the gazetted and quarterly electoral rolls. SPR has recently stopped the online publication of the quarterly rolls in PDF format.Given adequate data, NGOs and the media can actually help SPR avoid unnecessary confusion.
What's so complicated about the electoral rolls?
- First, we need to clarify which versions of electoral rolls are being bandied about.
- We believe the confusion arises from comparing these versions:
- the 2008 Feb 5 gazetted roll used in the 12th GE, with data up to 2007 Dec 31 (=2007Q4),
- The 2008 Jun 19 gazetted roll, with data up to 2008 Mar 31 (=2008Q1),
- The ungazetted supplementary roll with data from 2008 Jun 30 (=2008Q2),
- The 2008 Jul 31 ungazetted roll for Permatang Pauh, based on the 2008 Jun 19 gazetted roll, adjusted for subsequent deletions, but not additions, ie, deletion-type changes between 2008 Apr 1 and 2008 Jul 31.
- PKR members are probably comparing versions (a) with (d), because they are most likely to have the MS Access soft copies for these two. Version (c) is most widely available in hard copy printed from PDF files, and reflects a "flow," or change, data, not a "point-in-time," cumulative, data.
- In contrast, the SPR probably thinks in terms of versions (b) vs (d), since (b) is a gazetted version. Version (c) is an intermediate version, that is to be gazetted. If and when (c) is gazetted, the Permatang Pauh section can lead to further confusion, because its data are dated 20080630, and is a "prequel" to the by-election version (d).
- We will focus on versions (a) and (d), because these are the most accessible to the public, and also from where the questions likely arise. We will supplement the information with version (b) which we have built into a "pro forma" version.
So what happened? We will explain our finding in 8 points:
Finding 1. The difference of only 10 voters between the 12th-GE and by-election rolls hides larger changes beneath.
Table A below shows that Permatang Pauh:
- contained 58,449 voters at the time of 12th GE roll gazetted on 2008 Feb 5,
- but now contains 58,459 voters at this by-election roll, dated 2008 Jul 31.
- On the surface, the roll has simply increased by 10 voters.
- But the underlying picture is a bit more complicated.
Date of publication | Gazetted | Data date | voter count | Comment |
20080205 | 20080205 | 20071231 | 58,449 | Used in 12th GE |
20080619 | 20080619 | 20080331 | 58,761 | Pro forma version estimated by Malvu.blogspot.com based on 2008Q1 changes |
20080731 | Not gazetted | 20080731? | 58,459 | Used in this by-election |
Finding 2. 951 voter ICs were deleted after the 12th GE roll, while 961 voter ICs were added to the by-election roll, netting the superficial increase of only 10 voter ICs.
Table B below shows that, between the times of the 12th GE and the by-election:
- 951 voter ICs were deleted. In other words, these voters existed in the 12th GE roll, but are now "missing" from the by-election roll.
- 961 new voter ICs were added. In other words, this many IC numbers were in the newer by-election roll, but had not existed in the 12th GE roll.
- Net result is the addition of only 10 voters (=961-951) on the surface.
- Meanwhile, 57,498 voter IC numbers exist in both the newer and older rolls. In other words, they remain valid voters both during the 12th GE and today's by-election.
- The number of 949 missing names cited in the MerdekaReview.com article above likely refers to the 951 deleted ICs (not names), less the 2 easily-explained police retirement cases,
- Our question is then: Were the deletion of 951 voters and addition of the other 961 voters reasonable and kosher?
Postal & non- postal | Postal Voters | Non- postal Voters | Comment | |||
IC found in 20080205 but not in 20080731 | 951 | = | 491 | + | 460 | These IC numbers were in the 12th GE roll, but now "gone" from by-election roll |
IC found in 20080731 but not in 20080205 | 961 | = | 489 | + | 472 | These IC numbers were not in the 12th GE roll, but are now in the by-election roll |
IC found in both versions | 57,498 | = | 1 | + | 57,497 | These were in both the 12th GE and by-election rolls |
Finding 3. Nearly half the changes involved an identical group of police postal voters, who have not actually moved, but have only had their police IC numbers slightly modified. This is enough to confuse the public, even apparently the SPR itself.
- Overall, there were 492 police postal voters in Permatang Pauh as of the 12th GE.
- One of them (G6014602) already had the "most updated" IC numbering format, and hence this IC number was not changed, "deleted" or "added back."
- Another two (I0013148 and R0071611) were permanently deleted after the 12th GE, probably due to retirement.
- The remaining 489 (=492-1-2) police postal voters had their IC numbers modified slightly, as we will explain later.
- This IC number change causes these 489 postal voters to appear to have gone "missing" en masse.
- The "missing" voters would total 491 if we count the 2 retirement cases mentioned above.
- Meanwhile, the same 489 postal voters' newly modified IC numbers make them look like 489 newly "added" voters. This likely happens because PKR, and even SPR itself, have no choice but to search the database by relying on the unique IC numbers, known in database parlance as the "primary index".
- This apparent and illusory "deletion" of 491 and "addition" of 489 postal voters account for about half the 951 "missing" and 961 "replacement" voters in the by-election roll.
Finding 4. The proof is in the detail: Let us look at all 489 pairs of slightly-changed police IC numbers.
From Table C below, we can see that the 489 pairs of old and new police postal IC numbers are nearly identical, having only these 2 feature changes:
- All police IC # starting with "R0" or "R" in 2008 Feb 5 roll have been changed to "RF" in the by-election roll. For example, R0117812 has been changed to RF117812.
- All police IC # starting with "G0," "I0," or "RT0" have been changed to "G," "I," or "RT" eliminating preceeding zeros. For example "RT007013" and "I0013642" have been changed to "RT7013" and "I13642" respectively.
20080205 | 20080731 | 20080205 | 20080731 | 20080205 | 20080731 | 20080205 | 20080731 | |||
R0117812 | RF117812 | I0016525 | I16525 | R0150393 | RF150393 | R0115049 | RF115049 | |||
R0083450 | RF83450 | R0121314 | RF121314 | R0156472 | RF156472 | R0122015 | RF122015 | |||
R0075343 | RF75343 | I0015495 | I15495 | RT017150 | RT17150 | R0075600 | RF75600 | |||
R0110379 | RF110379 | R0106264 | RF106264 | R0121553 | RF121553 | R0117609 | RF117609 | |||
R0066165 | RF66165 | R0144589 | RF144589 | R0099644 | RF99644 | R0082847 | RF82847 | |||
R0094340 | RF94340 | R0147646 | RF147646 | R0116111 | RF116111 | R0125958 | RF125958 | |||
RT007013 | RT7013 | R0116861 | RF116861 | R0072226 | RF72226 | R0114448 | RF114448 | |||
R0084073 | RF84073 | R0136943 | RF136943 | R0119542 | RF119542 | R0129824 | RF129824 | |||
R0117802 | RF117802 | R0087700 | RF87700 | R0147791 | RF147791 | R0154684 | RF154684 | |||
R0116501 | RF116501 | R0070383 | RF70383 | R0064730 | RF64730 | I0017421 | I17421 | |||
R0075162 | RF75162 | R0106695 | RF106695 | R0122041 | RF122041 | R0118150 | RF118150 | |||
R0104241 | RF104241 | R0119208 | RF119208 | R0066504 | RF66504 | R0096855 | RF96855 | |||
R0081895 | RF81895 | R0098386 | RF98386 | R0152192 | RF152192 | R0150957 | RF150957 | |||
R0064863 | RF64863 | R0092672 | RF92672 | R0120416 | RF120416 | R0155317 | RF155317 | |||
R0133195 | RF133195 | R0105778 | RF105778 | R0160854 | RF160854 | R0106314 | RF106314 | |||
I0013642 | I13642 | R0086517 | RF86517 | R0096185 | RF96185 | R0090262 | RF90262 | |||
R0110443 | RF110443 | R0072837 | RF72837 | R0109868 | RF109868 | R0087460 | RF87460 | |||
R0150829 | RF150829 | R0146826 | RF146826 | G0016759 | G16759 | R0070168 | RF70168 | |||
R0104462 | RF104462 | G0010340 | G10340 | R0016140 | RF16140 | R0120817 | RF120817 | |||
R0098522 | RF98522 | R0118270 | RF118270 | R0150851 | RF150851 | R0138717 | RF138717 | |||
R0157454 | RF157454 | R0098446 | RF98446 | R0152253 | RF152253 | R0123647 | RF123647 | |||
R0126342 | RF126342 | R0087746 | RF87746 | R0146804 | RF146804 | R0118151 | RF118151 | |||
R0147641 | RF147641 | R0088872 | RF88872 | RT017092 | RT17092 | R0209015 | RF209015 | |||
R0148019 | RF148019 | R0069129 | RF69129 | I0015669 | I15669 | R0122707 | RF122707 | |||
R0111866 | RF111866 | R0082303 | RF82303 | R0074986 | RF74986 | R0127487 | RF127487 | |||
R0109440 | RF109440 | R0059576 | RF59576 | R0102538 | RF102538 | R0135769 | RF135769 | |||
RT009714 | RT9714 | RT009593 | RT9593 | R0121104 | RF121104 | R0104206 | RF104206 | |||
R0092824 | RF92824 | R0104216 | RF104216 | I0016952 | I16952 | R0118437 | RF118437 | |||
R0090872 | RF90872 | R0083428 | RF83428 | R0092461 | RF92461 | R0100972 | RF100972 | |||
R0120704 | RF120704 | R0066678 | RF66678 | I0010102 | I10102 | R4068948 | RF4068948 | |||
R0066493 | RF66493 | R0096059 | RF96059 | RT013524 | RT13524 | I0013105 | I13105 | |||
R0103016 | RF103016 | R0007020 | RF7020 | R0119522 | RF119522 | R0087568 | RF87568 | |||
R0115002 | RF115002 | R0101088 | RF101088 | G0015784 | G15784 | R0118571 | RF118571 | |||
R0069264 | RF69264 | R0084978 | RF84978 | R0150373 | RF150373 | R0094393 | RF94393 | |||
R0096808 | RF96808 | R0075855 | RF75855 | R0075364 | RF75364 | R0089600 | RF89600 | |||
R0072849 | RF72849 | R065263 | RF65263 | R0117352 | RF117352 | R0157902 | RF157902 | |||
R0122428 | RF122428 | R0118501 | RF118501 | R0099634 | RF99634 | R0146815 | RF146815 | |||
R0075559 | RF75559 | R0094191 | RF94191 | R0156050 | RF156050 | R0127383 | RF127383 | |||
G0009929 | G9929 | R0101759 | RF101759 | I0013498 | I13498 | R0082005 | RF82005 | |||
R0099581 | RF99581 | R0112305 | RF112305 | R0115735 | RF115735 | R0084519 | RF84519 | |||
R0161034 | RF161034 | R0110411 | RF110411 | R0059422 | RF59422 | R0118524 | RF118524 | |||
R0071196 | RF71196 | I0015858 | I15858 | R0085050 | RF85050 | R0139560 | RF139560 | |||
R0086272 | RF86272 | R0117385 | RF117385 | R0118247 | RF118247 | R0081950 | RF81950 | |||
R0058643 | RF58643 | R0087723 | RF87723 | R0150756 | RF150756 | R0071496 | RF71496 | |||
I0017140 | I17140 | R0073939 | RF73939 | I0009048 | I9048 | R0092831 | RF92831 | |||
R0111890 | RF111890 | R0121980 | RF121980 | R0112759 | RF112759 | R0094451 | RF94451 | |||
R0158318 | RF158318 | R0082276 | RF82276 | R0124857 | RF124857 | R0085785 | RF85785 | |||
R0122429 | RF122429 | R0117288 | RF117288 | R0110132 | RF110132 | R0090295 | RF90295 | |||
R0101127 | RF101127 | R0104469 | RF104469 | R0065091 | RF65091 | R0141877 | RF141877 | |||
R0109306 | RF109306 | R0111437 | RF111437 | R0074980 | RF74980 | RT012073 | RT12073 | |||
R0139177 | RF139177 | I0016109 | I16109 | R0159393 | RF159393 | I0016795 | I16795 | |||
R0153224 | RF153224 | R0138304 | RF138304 | R0074313 | RF74313 | R0138322 | RF138322 | |||
R0154666 | RF154666 | R0152268 | RF152268 | RT017098 | RT17098 | R0141991 | RF141991 | |||
R0067147 | RF67147 | R0138920 | RF138920 | R0144493 | RF144493 | R0069164 | RF69164 | |||
R0106936 | RF106936 | R0120262 | RF120262 | R0111938 | RF111938 | I0010825 | I10825 | |||
R0103900 | RF103900 | R0075173 | RF75173 | R0145358 | RF145358 | R0094306 | RF94306 | |||
R0113253 | RF113253 | R0108918 | RF108918 | R0118325 | RF118325 | I0008287 | I8287 | |||
R0102111 | RF102111 | R0089312 | RF89312 | R0116414 | RF116414 | R0121418 | RF121418 | |||
R0137757 | RF137757 | R0097853 | RF97853 | R0150400 | RF150400 | RT007425 | RT7425 | |||
R0125261 | RF125261 | R0084200 | RF84200 | R0106883 | RF106883 | R0127275 | RF127275 | |||
R0117266 | RF117266 | R0090007 | RF90007 | R0100604 | RF100604 | R0090619 | RF90619 | |||
R0110136 | RF110136 | R0138733 | RF138733 | R0102610 | RF102610 | R0119829 | RF119829 | |||
R0089976 | RF89976 | RT007021 | RT7021 | R0069725 | RF69725 | R0111099 | RF111099 | |||
I0015980 | I15980 | R0085327 | RF85327 | R0092344 | RF92344 | R0101869 | RF101869 | |||
R0092005 | RF92005 | R0072814 | RF72814 | R0085523 | RF85523 | I0014237 | I14237 | |||
R0115609 | RF115609 | R0073548 | RF73548 | R0075596 | RF75596 | R0069567 | RF69567 | |||
R0129826 | RF129826 | R0120282 | RF120282 | G0010593 | G10593 | R0086808 | RF86808 | |||
R0095077 | RF95077 | R0107024 | RF107024 | R0102663 | RF102663 | R0102645 | RF102645 | |||
R0098789 | RF98789 | I0011269 | I11269 | R0068305 | RF68305 | I0013908 | I13908 | |||
R0075212 | RF75212 | I0016783 | I16783 | R0073304 | RF73304 | R0069521 | RF69521 | |||
R0066339 | RF66339 | R0089026 | RF89026 | R0106103 | RF106103 | R0148427 | RF148427 | |||
R0116504 | RF116504 | R0102937 | RF102937 | R0094390 | RF94390 | R0116417 | RF116417 | |||
R0060135 | RF60135 | R0123190 | RF123190 | R0119640 | RF119640 | R0131568 | RF131568 | |||
R0106581 | RF106581 | R0110041 | RF110041 | I0014965 | I14965 | G0016185 | G16185 | |||
R0090416 | RF90416 | R0103029 | RF103029 | R0119068 | RF119068 | R0110449 | RF110449 | |||
R0066610 | RF66610 | R0098627 | RF98627 | R0138208 | RF138208 | R0070173 | RF70173 | |||
R0113312 | RF113312 | R0099137 | RF99137 | R0138214 | RF138214 | R0105197 | RF105197 | |||
R0097230 | RF97230 | R0069353 | RF69353 | R0075774 | RF75774 | R0160886 | RF160886 | |||
I0017068 | I17068 | R0114111 | RF114111 | R0137764 | RF137764 | R0121142 | RF121142 | |||
R0127064 | RF127064 | R0155827 | RF155827 | R0111484 | RF111484 | R0136263 | RF136263 | |||
R0118159 | RF118159 | R0067825 | RF67825 | R0102302 | RF102302 | R0068361 | RF68361 | |||
R0054978 | RF54978 | R0104197 | RF104197 | R0138212 | RF138212 | R0126897 | RF126897 | |||
R0092037 | RF92037 | R0055360 | RF55360 | R0115649 | RF115649 | R0109539 | RF109539 | |||
R0115637 | RF115637 | R0102590 | RF102590 | R0105562 | RF105562 | R0106522 | RF106522 | |||
R0088651 | RF88651 | R0092888 | RF92888 | R0118252 | RF118252 | R0114994 | RF114994 | |||
RT015000 | RT15000 | R0092114 | RF92114 | R0068148 | RF68148 | R0097692 | RF97692 | |||
R0116711 | RF116711 | R0118351 | RF118351 | R0105909 | RF105909 | RT009716 | RT9716 | |||
R0094465 | RF94465 | R0054938 | RF54938 | R0103137 | RF103137 | RT007026 | RT7026 | |||
R0069476 | RF69476 | RT011990 | RT11990 | R0129943 | RF129943 | R0093626 | RF93626 | |||
R0088717 | RF88717 | RT011958 | RT11958 | R0137820 | RF137820 | R0064917 | RF64917 | |||
R0124440 | RF124440 | RT011988 | RT11988 | I0016516 | I16516 | R0098125 | RF98125 | |||
R0072179 | RF72179 | R0073400 | RF73400 | R0155013 | RF155013 | R0116034 | RF116034 | |||
I0013491 | I13491 | RT007035 | RT7035 | R0069136 | RF69136 | R0117340 | RF117340 | |||
R0091444 | RF91444 | R0058175 | RF58175 | R0101891 | RF101891 | R0132520 | RF132520 | |||
R0098521 | RF98521 | R0066078 | RF66078 | R0107972 | RF107972 | R0104387 | RF104387 | |||
R0059415 | RF59415 | R0102961 | RF102961 | R0066208 | RF66208 | R0091382 | RF91382 | |||
I0016226 | I16226 | R0122779 | RF122779 | R0087491 | RF87491 | R0113831 | RF113831 | |||
R0090962 | RF90962 | R0082794 | RF82794 | R0059684 | RF59684 | R0085849 | RF85849 | |||
R0063770 | RF63770 | R0067988 | RF67988 | I0014150 | I14150 | R0122598 | RF122598 | |||
R0090810 | RF90810 | I0014091 | I14091 | R0100837 | RF100837 | R0116364 | RF116364 | |||
R0092038 | RF92038 | R0138088 | RF138088 | RT012082 | RT12082 | R0104209 | RF104209 | |||
R0095087 | RF95087 | R0118936 | RF118936 | R0098885 | RF98885 | R0117549 | RF117549 | |||
R0137143 | RF137143 | I0015279 | I15279 | R0068460 | RF68460 | R0139473 | RF139473 | |||
R0088718 | RF88718 | G0010459 | G10459 | R0105514 | RF105514 | R0125742 | RF125742 | |||
I0012513 | I12513 | R0116946 | RF116946 | R0102949 | RF102949 | R0126530 | RF126530 | |||
G0009068 | G9068 | R0139514 | RF139514 | R0157897 | RF157897 | R0094339 | RF94339 | |||
R0092019 | RF92019 | R0108885 | RF108885 | RT007037 | RT7037 | R0113963 | RF113963 | |||
R0108073 | RF108073 | I0016617 | I16617 | R0090997 | RF90997 | R0072823 | RF72823 | |||
R0085982 | RF85982 | RT016618 | RT16618 | R0091885 | RF91885 | R0133525 | RF133525 | |||
R0089495 | RF89495 | G0010714 | G10714 | R0088438 | RF88438 | R0100831 | RF100831 | |||
R0139568 | RF139568 | R0118710 | RF118710 | R0064739 | RF64739 | R0110553 | RF110553 | |||
RT015968 | RT15968 | R0101581 | RF101581 | R0092126 | RF92126 | I0013880 | I13880 | |||
R0094405 | RF94405 | R0146589 | RF146589 | R0085474 | RF85474 | R0124820 | RF124820 | |||
R0100609 | RF100609 | R0094259 | RF94259 | R0071032 | RF71032 | R0139594 | RF139594 | |||
R0150986 | RF150986 | R0085635 | RF85635 | R0069950 | RF69950 | R0116477 | RF116477 | |||
R0090113 | RF90113 | RT016106 | RT16106 | R0075273 | RF75273 | R0082136 | RF82136 | |||
R0105635 | RF105635 | R0152652 | RF152652 | R0118573 | RF118573 | R0070484 | RF70484 | |||
R0127580 | RF127580 | R0110021 | RF110021 | R0138188 | RF138188 | R0063476 | RF63476 | |||
R0091637 | RF91637 | R0111843 | RF111843 | R0067341 | RF67341 | R0072256 | RF72256 | |||
R0119628 | RF119628 | R0139485 | RF139485 | R0105516 | RF105516 | R0136959 | RF136959 | |||
R0089897 | RF89897 | R0145798 | RF145798 | R0131432 | RF131432 | |||||
R0072131 | RF72131 | I0016650 | I16650 | R0130748 | RF130748 | |||||
R0106937 | RF106937 | I0012250 | I12250 | R0107051 | RF107051 |
Finding 5: SPR did a poor and confusing job in modifying these police IC numbers, and in explaining the changes.
While we now understand that 489 police postal voters really did not move in or out of Permatang Pauh, there remain other questions and expected problems:
- SPR should have expected this IC number confusion, should have been ready to explain the changes, thereby preempting a loss to its own credibility.
- This postal IC number modification occurred in a rush, only after the 2008 Jun 19 gazetted roll, in which we can find the old-formatted IC numbers. Confirming this timing is that we cannot find these "deletion" or "addition" in the 2008Q1 supplementary roll.
- The changes do not look permanent. Any further changes will again invite confusion. Some of the "new format" police IC numbers are too short or too long to be a standardized, permanent, format:
- Most of the IC#s are preceded by one or two alphabets, followed by 6 digits,
- But there are IC#s followed by only 4-5 digits, for example, RT9714, G9929, and I13642.
- There is an IC# followed by 7 digits, ie, RF4068948. With the "RF" prefix, this IC# has 9 characters in all, and is a non-standard occurrence.
- With the above oddities, we would expect SPR at anytime to add back the zeros to the shorter IC#s make them a standard length, reigniting confusion.
- A separate matter is that about 404 of the "Bukit Mertajam" police HQ/station officers have probably been gerrymandered into the "Permatang Pauh" seat. We will deal with the geographical question another time.
- MalaysiaKini.com reported just before the 12th GE that computer programmer Ong Guan Sin had found 278 pairs of such double-registered voters that differ by a leading zero.
- With a complete database, we later found 771 such doppelgängers that differ by a leading zero, or only different by the initial "R0" and "RF."
The solution to this and future problems? Switch to using 12-digit civilian ICs for all postal (police and military) voters. Aren't they exercising their civilian duties when voting? Aren't they born civilian? Haven't they received the MyKad and 12-digit IC numbers by the age of 12 - before they enter the police and army? Aren't they going to retire as civilians?
Moreover, we feel the SPR also does not fully realize that many of the duplicated postal registration also involve input mistakes and variations in names (Nama) and year of birth (Tahunlahir), albeit not in P044. See Tables B and C in "771 doppelgängers." It is these second and third layers of input mistakes at SPR's voter registration procedure that caused the errors to be so difficult to trace.
The solution to this and future problem? Make voter registration automatic, as they attain their MyKad and 12-digit ICs.
Finding 6: The deletion of 460 non-postal voters after the 12th GE is more dicey. We can only trace 218 of the 460 deletions - given SPR's lack of transparency. The remaining 242 could have contained the 5 embarrassing cases of "alive-and-well but deleted-as-dead" voters documented by the media and NGO.
Table D tells us that:
- 460 of the 951 voter ICs deleted were non-postal voters
- Our investigation of the 2008Q1 supplemental roll revealed that 84 voters were deleted because they moved out of P044, and 89 deceased voters were deleted. SPR was going through an aggressive campaign to clean up cumulated dead voters across the country.
- In total, SPR deleted 173 (=84+89) voters from Permatang Pauh in 2008Q1. We have recorded this finding in our earlier blog "Pro Forma Electoral Roll for P044 for 2008Q1."
- That means SPR deleted the remaining 287 (=460-173) during 2008Q2 (April, May, June), and also in July.
- We cannot trace what happened then because SPR stopped publishing supplemental roll for 2008Q2, and only displayed the hard copies in post offices.
- Further, we can tell by manually checking SPR's P044 by-election voter verification Web page, that SPR deleted all voters age 100 or more across the board, which account for 25 voter deletion after the 2008 Jun 19 gazetted roll. We have documented this apparent "stroke-of-a-pen deletion of centenarians here."
- Further, SPR deleted a total of 20 voters aged 86 to 89 years old.
- In all, we can trace 218 (=84+89+25+20) of the 460 deletions of non-postal voters so far.
- That leaves 242 deletions of non-postal voters to be explained.
Voter changes | Number of Voters | Number of Voters |
Number of voter ICs deleted after 12th GE | 951 | |
Number of postal voter IC deleted/modified | 491 | |
Number of non-postal voter IC deleted | 460 | |
2008 Jun 19 gazetted list (data as of 2008 Mar 31, we calculate from our pro forma version) | ||
Deletion of voters for moving out reported in 2008Q1 | 84 | |
Deletion of voters due to death reported in 2008Q1 | 89 | |
Subtotal - Deletion reported in 2008Q1 | 173 | |
Number of deletions to explain for 2008Q2 and 2008 July | 287 | |
SPR deletion of all voters 100 or older in April, May, June, July | 25 | |
SPR deletion of voters 86 to 99 years old in April, May, June, July | 20 | |
Subtotal - Deletion of 86+ year voters in 2008Q2 and up to July 31 | 45 | |
Number of non-postal deletion we can trace | 218 | |
Number of deletions to explain | 242 |
From recent pattern of a special SPR campaign to delete dead voters, we figure it is reasonable to expect about 200 deletions of moved-out and dead voters per quarter, for April, May, and June, a period that should overlap with the above 86+ voter deletion (25+20).
- Any registration changes for July 2008 (after 2008Q2), however, have not even been publicly displayed - not to mention gazetted. It would be imprudent for SPR to delete from July changes, although it could account for perhaps 100 or more missing voters.
- SPR's lack of transparency and unwillingness to make 2008Q2 supplementary roll easily available means we cannot trace the last 242 deletions. We can only make partial, manual, checking and guesses.
- These 242 untraced deletions could easily contain mistakes created in a rush. If so, SPR would have embarrassed itself by trying to avoid embarrassing itself.
- MalaysiaKini.com and MerdekaReview.com have reported a total of 5 cases of voters, who are alive and well, who were told by SPR staff on polling day that they had been considered dead and deleted from the rolls.
- We can confirm one case (Ang Kean Tatt, born 1983) where the voter did exist in the 2008 Feb 5 roll, is alive and well, but is not found in the 2008 Jul 31 roll, and was told he was dead in the voters roll.
- We suspect other cases may involve long-dormant voters who have suddenly found themselves gerrymandered away from Permatang Pauh even before the 12th GE.
- See various reports:
- Four names missing from electoral list
- 选民册上宣报死亡 真正幽灵选民显现? Machine translation (will contain funny machine translation mistakes).
Finding 7: The "addition" of 961 voters in the by-election roll was also inflated by 489 new-formatted police postal voter IC numbers
As we explained above in Finding 2, 489 police voters remained in Permatang Pauh so far this yea. But their newly-formatted IC numbers have made these 489 look like "new additions" to the roll.
Finding 8: The remaining 472 (=961-489) new non-postal voters can be traced to normal new voters and moved-in voters in 2008Q1, gazetted in 2008 Jun 19.
- SPR press release indicated that SPR did not add new voters after the 2008 Jun 19 gazetted (2008Q1 data) rolls, and that SPR only deleted voters found to have moved out or to have died.
- The 2008Q1 supplementary roll revealed that 485 new voters were added to Permatang Pauh in 2008Q1, gazetted on 2008 Jun 19:
- 373 voters were added due to new registration, and
- 112 voters were added because they moved into Permatang Pauh.
- Earlier we calculated that 472 non-postal voters were added, which is fewer than 485 reported in 2008Q1.
- This means we can account for almost all the addition to the by-election roll.
- As a result, we had not been too worried about "phantom voters" being imported into the electoral roll. (Although bused-in phantoms using other valid voters' ICs is another matter to worry about.)
- Still, the difference of 13, between 485 non-postal voters added in 2008Q1 and 472 additional non-postal voters found on the by-election roll, is a small mystery. Some 13 voters were somehow deleted or not included somewhere.
With the above 8 points of finding, and the confusion created by SPR changes, we repeat these three recommendations for improving SPR and the electoral rolls:
- First, let police and military voters switch to a 12-digit civilian IC to simplify verification, update, and avoid duplicate registrations.
- Second, make voter registration automatic with MyKad status at the NRIC Department. Meanwhile, make NRIC accountable to the parliament, to prevent Sabah-like IC mess,
- Third, make SPR more transparent with the gazetted and quarterly electoral rolls. SPR has recently stopped the online publication of the quarterly rolls in PDF format.Given adequate data, NGOs and the media can actually help SPR avoid unnecessary confusion.
2 comments:
The third quarter electoral roll supplementary changes (rang tambahan) is available for checking at
http://daftarj.spr.gov.my/rang/rang.aspx
However, no PDF files are available, it seems.
Hardcopies are available for viewing at post offices, listed here:
http://www.spr.gov.my/index/pameran.html
The second quarter changes have been gazetted on 2008 Sep 4. Check here (will be updated to a later roll in future):
http://daftarj.spr.gov.my/daftarj/
General home page:
http://www.spr.gov.my/index/pagemulabi.htm
SPR press release:
KENYATAAN AKHBAR
SURUHANJAYA PILIHAN RAYA (SPR), MALAYSIA
BIL.17/2008
PAMERAN RANG DAFTAR PEMILIH TAMBAHAN
SUKU TAHUN KETIGA 2008
1. Dalam tempoh urusan pendaftaran pemilih Suku Tahun Ketiga (Julai hingga September) 2008, Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) Malaysia telah menerima sebanyak 24,531 permohonan pendaftaran sebagai pemilih baru dan sebanyak 6,200 permohonan untuk pertukaran alamat pusat mengundi daripada pemilih yang sedia berdaftar dengan SPR.
2. Selaras dengan kehendak Peraturan 13(5A), Peraturan-Peraturan Pilihan Raya (Pendaftaran Pemilih) 2002, Rang Daftar Pemilih Tambahan bagi Suku Tahun Ketiga 2008 akan dipamerkan mulai 28 Oktober hingga 03 November 2008 di 985 tempat pameran di seluruh Negara seperti berikut:
...
http://www.spr.gov.my/index/pameranrang/PAMERANRDPT3.doc
SPR partially explained the issue in a press release. It didn't explain the change in voters with police IDs.
http://www.spr.gov.my/index/infop44.htm
----
PENJELASAN MENGENAI DAKWAAN PIHAK PKR BAHAWA 949 NAMA PEMILIH HILANG DARI DAFTAR PEMILIH PILIHAN RAYA KECIL P.044 PERMATANG PAUH
1. Akhbar The STAR dimuka surat 8 keluaran Isnin 25 Ogos 2008 membawa berita bahawa pihak Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) mendakwa seramai 949 nama pemilih yang kebanyakkannya penyokong-penyokong mereka yang ada di dalam Daftar Pemilih Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-12 pada 8 Mac 2008 dikatakan telah hilang daripada Daftar Pemilih yang dikemaskini sehingga 31 Julai 2008 yang akan digunapakai dalam Pilihan Raya Kecil P.044 Permatang Pauh pada 26 Ogos 2008. Semakan yang dibuat oleh SPR dengan pengkalan data pemilih mengesahkan bahawa tuduhan yang dibuat itu adalah kurang tepat dan mungkin boleh mengelirukan para pembaca berita tersebut.
2. Untuk makluman para Pemilih Berdaftar dalam bahagian Pilihan Raya Parlimen P.044 Permatang Pauh khususnya dan juga untuk makluman orang ramai amnya,terdapat seramai 58,449 orang Pemilih Berdaftar dalam PRU ke-12. Semasa tempoh urusan Pendaftaran dan Penyemakan Daftar Pemilih untuk Suku Tahun Pertama 2008 yang bermula dari 1 Januari sehingga 31 Mac 2008, terdapat tambahan seramai 484 orang pemilih yang terdiri daripada 372 orang pemilih baru dan 112 permohonan daripada pemilih-pemilih berdaftar di Bahagian-bahagian Pilihan Parlimen yang lain untuk membuat permohonan pertukaran Pusat Mengundi ke bahagian Pilihan Raya Parlimen P.044 Permatang Pauh. Apabila angka tambahan sebanyak 484 orang pemilih ini dicampur dengan 58,449 orang pemilih yang sedia ada dalam Daftar Pemilih PRU ke-12, ia menjadikan angka keseluruhan pemilih di bahagian Pilihan Raya Parlimen P.044 Permatang Pauh sebanyak 58,933 pada 31 Mac 2008.
3. Walaubagaimanapun, SPR telah membuat pemotongan seramai 173 orang pemilih dalam Suku Tahun Pertama 2008 iaitu 84 orang Pemilih Berdaftar di Bahagian Pilihan Raya Parlimen P.044 Permatang Pauh yang telahpun memohon untuk bertukar alamat Pusat Mengundi keluar daripada bahagian Pilihan Raya Parlimen P.044 Permatang Pauh serta telah membuat 89 lain – lain pemotongan kerana kematian dan sebagainya. Justeru itu, apabila ditolak angka 58,933 orang pemilih seperti yang diterangkan di para 2 di atas dengan jumlah pemotongan sebanyak 173 orang pemilih dalam tempoh yang sama iaitu Suku Tahun Pertama 2008, maka bilangan pemilih berdaftar bagi Bahagian Pilihan Raya Parlimen P.044 Permatang Pauh pada 31 Mac 2008 adalah seramai 58,760 orang pemilih. Angka ini telah pun diwartakan pada 19 Jun 2008.
4. Dalam Suku Tahun Kedua yang bermula daripada, 1 April sehingga 30 Jun 2008, SPR telah membuat pemotongan seramai 143 orang pemilih kerana kematian,lucut hak warganegara dan sebagainya. Kesemua 143 nama pemilih itu telahpun dipamerkan semasa urusan pameran Rang Daftar Pemilih Suku Tahun Kedua yang dibuat pada 21 sehingga 27 Julai 2008.
5. Selain daripada itu, SPR juga telah membuat pemotongan tambahan seramai 158 orang pemilih kerana telah meninggal dunia, silap pendataan, tiada rekod di JPN dan sebagainya dari 1 Julai sehingga 31 Julai 2008. Ini bermakna jumlah pemotongan yang telah dibuat oleh SPR dari tempoh 1 April sehingga 31 Julai 2008 adalah seramai 301 orang pemilih (143 campur 158). Dengan ini, angka terkini bilangan Pemilih Berdaftar bagi Bahagian Pilihan Raya Parlimen P.044 Permatang Pauh pada 31 Julai 2008 adalah seramai 58,459 orang pemilih (58,760 orang pemilih tolak 301 orang pemilih).
6. Dengan penjelasan-penjelasan seperti yang dinyatakan di para 2 sehingga 5 di atas adalah diharapkan para Pemilih Berdaftar khususnya di Bahagian Pilihan Raya Parlimen P.044 Permatang Pauh dan juga orang ramai amnya akan mendapat gambaran yang lebih jelas mengenai isu yang telah dibangkitkan oleh PKR ini.
7. Selain daripada itu, sekali lagi ditegaskan bahawa maklumat peribadi Pemilih Berdaftar di Bahagian Pilihan Raya Parlimen P.044 Permatang Pauh yang telah dikemaskini oleh SPR pada 31 Julai 2008 adalah sama dengan Daftar Pemilih Pilihan Raya yang telah diserahkan kepada setiap orang calon yang bertanding pada Hari Penamaan Calon yang diadakan pada 16 Ogos 2008. Justeru itu, mana-mana Pemilih Berdaftar dalam Bahagian Pilihan Raya Parlimen P.044 Permatang Pauh yang hendak mengetahui dengan lebih tepat mengenai tiga perkara iaitu nama Pusat Mengundi tempat seseorang pemilih akan mengundi pada 26 Ogos 2008, nombor saluran mengundi masing-masing Pusat Mengundi tersebut dan juga nombor siri pemilih yang tersenarai di dalam Buku Daftar Pemilih Pilihan Raya bagi tempat (saluran) mengundi berkenaan bolehlah dibuat melalui salah satu daripada tiga sistem semakan seperti berikut:
7.1 Melalui semakan laman web SPR dengan melayari www.spr.gov.my dan klik kepada Permatang Pauh.
7.2 Melalui perkhidmatan Sistem Pesanan Ringkas (SMS) dengan menaip SPR <jarak> nombor kad pengenalan dan hantar kepada 15888; atau
7.3 Melalui semakan dengan BIlik Gerakan Pilihan Raya Pejabat Pilihan Raya Negeri Pulau Pinang melalui talian 04-2617692 dari jam 8.00 pagi sehingga 12.00 malam pada 25 Ogos 2008.
Sekian,terima kasih.
“Berkhidmat Untuk Negara”
Saya Yang Menurut Perintah,
(DATUK HAJI KAMARUZAMAN BIN HAJI MOHD NOOR)
Setiausaha,
Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) Malaysia.
Tarikh: 25 Ogos 2008
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