PBB: Is DAP trying to deny servicemens rights?

PETALING JAYA: Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) has accused Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chien Jen of attempting to deny voters their rights with his call for police and army personnel to be disallowed from casting their votes in the state election if they originate from elsewhere in Malaysia.

In a media statement today, PBB Supreme Council member Abdul Karim Hamzah said: “Who is Chong Chien Jen to determine that army and police personnel based in Sarawak cannot vote where they reside? Army and police personnel have every right to vote where their camps are located, just like any other Malaysian has the right to vote for an assemblyman to serve his constituency.

“Why does Chong fear these voters?”

Yesterday, Chong urged the Election Commission and the Sarawak government to bar soldiers and policemen as well as their families from voting in the coming state election if they originated from outside Sarawak.

Abdul Karim said Chong was trying to make it appear as if the servicemen were ‘imported’ from elsewhere to give their votes to Barisan Nasional candidates.

He said a large number of army voters were registered in the new Stakan constituency because there were army camps in the vicinity.

“Chong should not turn it into an issue and try to portray that the BN is trying to win the election by importing outsiders,” he said. “Chong should be grateful that the presence of the army and the police has kept Sarawak peaceful.”

In his statement yesterday, Chong, who is the MP for Bandar Kuching, complained: “Our parliamentary members are being barred from entering Sarawak when they are only here to help with campaigning during the election. Yet thousands of West Malaysian army and police personnel are allowed to directly vote in the election.”

He said Sarawak’s fight for state autonomy should start with the “most basic step, i.e. Sarawakians voting for the Sarawak government.”

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