Malaysia's Elections 2008 (Before, During & After)

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* Sungai Siput’s incumbent MP S Samy Vellu is confident all MIC candidates standing for the nine parliamentary and 19 state seats will retain their seats today.

“A week ago we had some problems in Prai and Lunas but now we have solved all the grouses and voters there are supporting us now,” he said.


* As of noon today, about 32 percent of Malaysia's 10.9 million registered voters had cast their ballots, said EC chief Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman, adding that the polling was proceeding smoothly.


* Out-going Penang chief minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon said that he will not be naming his successor tonight. He added that the announcement will be made in the next day or two. Three frontrunners for the post are party vice-president Dr Teng Hock Nan, Tanjung division chief and present favourite Teng Chang Yeow and deputy secretary-general Lee Kah Choon.


* PKR’s de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim said he was glad to be able to vote again for the first time since 1995. He and his wife Dr Wan Azizah voted at the SM Penanti at about 10.45am. Wan Azizah is contesting to retain her Permatang Pauh seat in Penang. He also said that the mood was “very good” for the opposition.


* bukit bintang polling 080308 dap flowerLee Chong Meng, the MCA challenger for the Bukit Bintang seat, has filed a report with the Election Commission, charging that his opponent DAP incumbent Fong Kui Lun has violated election laws by giving out flowers in honour of International Women's Day.

Lee said the flowers did not display any party logo but were accompanied by stickers that said, 'Mrs Fong wishes Happy Women's Day' and were distributed outside polling stations.


* Opposition party members this morning assaulted a bus driver in Besut, Terengganu, for allegedly transporting phantom voters. The driver has been admitted to hospital.


* About 20 BN workers at the Pantai Merdeka operations room were down with food poisoning, believed to have been caused by consuming packet drinks delivered to them by an unknown person last night. Those affected complained of dizziness, vomitting and sore throat and were sent to the Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital, where they were given outpatient treatment.


* Selangor BN chief Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo and his wife Zahrah Kechik arrived in a new scooter at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Simpang Lima, Sungai Besar, Sabak Bernam polling centre this morning. The black scooter with silver stripe is said to be bought by him only yesterday with registration number BJV 8888, believed by the Chinese to bring "ong" or good luck.


* Elderly voters in Kuala Lumpur are complaining with Election Commission’s placing of voting booths in first or second floors of voting centres. They claim that this is making is difficult for them to cast they votes.


* abdullah ahmad badawi polling day vote 080308 05BN chairperson Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he was confident that the ruling coalition can retain its two-thirds majority in the Parliament after casting his vote at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Permatang Bertam in Kepala Batas at 9.25am this morning.


* Prime Minister’s wife Jeanne Abdullah today urged women voters to go out in full force and cast their votes to show their strength in determining the future of the nation. She said that this was important especially today is also International Women’s Day.


* In Sungai Siput, MIC president S Samy Vellu cast his vote at the SMK Methodist with his family members at 8.50am. Samy Vellu is facing a tough challenge from PKR’s Dr D Jeyakumar for his seat, which the veteran politician has held for eight terms.


* PAS Kelantan is claiming that they have a man who had admitted of being a phantom-voter broker. The party said that the man turned himself to them at about 3am, stating that he had 28 identity cards which can be used by anyone to vote. The party has yet to lodge a police report or reveal the name of the man.


* The latest unverified SMS to be making its rounds - there are 5,000 army (postal) votes being shifted to Bukit Bintang, 15,000 to Sungai Siput, 7,000 to Pekan and 3,000 to Kulai.


* International wire service Reuters had this rather alarming headline this morning - ‘Malaysia votes, PM's leadership at stake’. The news agency said that the ruling coalition is seen as certain to retain power but the prime minister's leadership is hanging in the balance, largely due to the unhappiness among the ethnic Chinese and Indian.


* Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor voted at Sekolah Menengah Sains Sultan Ahmad Shah in Pekan, Pahang at 8.40am.


* Outgoing Penang chief minister and Gerakan acting president Dr Koh Tsu Koon and his wife Chui Kah Peng voted at Sekolah Kebangsaan Tanjung Bungah at 8.20am.


* Popular blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin’s predictions (according to his intelligence agency source): Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis, Kedah and Penang will all fall to opposition today. On the last count, the opposition may win up to 90 seats in Parliament. In 2004, the opposition won 21 parliamentary seats.

Polling-day snippets

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Just now at outside Peng Bin primary school I can see some Indian guys holding Keadilan and DAP flags by the road side shouting... we gave our thumb ups. A few metres down the road, some BN people were holding flags as well. They were not as enthusiatic...

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1 more hour to go...

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Whoa... buses of ghosts... never see before.

Hundreds of buses are being escorted into Terengganu by the police force and the federal reserve unit, claims a PAS leader.

Dr Said Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi revealed that these buses were coming into the state non-stop.

“(It has) created suspicion amongst us,” he told Malaysiakini.

It is believed that these buses could be ferrying the phantom voters to the polling stations.

When asked on the alleged report of PAS stopping these buses from coming into Terengganu this morning, he declined to answer.

Another PAS leader, Mustafa Ali was also unable to confirm reports that six buses were ambushed by PAS members of PAS in Jabi and Kemaman.

It was reported that a bus driver was assaulted by these PAS supporters and had to admitted to the hospital.

Yesterday PAS claimed that the BN was ferrying in phantom voters to help them win the election in the state.

Police 'escort buses into Terengganu'

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The nation’s 12th general election is today with polling started right on dot at 8am in all 7,950 polling stations throughout the country.

At stake are 214 parliamentary seats and 501 state seats, the outcome of which are in the hands of 10.92 million registered voters.

polling day 080308 voter ballot box 02On nomination day, the ruling BN won eight parliamentary seats and three state seats uncontested. In the opposition front PAS managed to win one state seat uncontested.

After 13 days of campaigning period, all political parties and their candidates stopped their campaigning at midnight yesterday as per the Election Commission rules.

Voters can cast their ballots until 5pm.

There are a total of 10,922,139 registered voters, of which 1,409,395 are first-time voters.

The election is expected to be a close one in several states but analysts predict that the BN will extend its half-century rule. BN is expected to retain it two-thirds majority in Parliament.

The coalition won 91 percent of parliamentary seats in 2004 elections, but its majority is expected to be clipped this time as it suffers a backlash from ethnic Chinese and Indians.

Dominated by Muslim Malays who make up 60 percent of the population of the multicultural nation, the coalition is composed of 14 race-based political parties.

Three opposition parties have formed a loose alliance for the elections, and agreed to field just one candidate against the coalition in each seat, to avoid three-cornered contests that have split their support in the past.

Vote wisely

BN chairperson Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also has urged Malaysians to come out and vote wisely.

abdullah ahmad badawi polling day vote 080308 02"Don't be emotional... consider what the candidates contesting in the election can do. Think of our future... our children and grandchildren," he said in an exclusive interview broadcast live by TV3.

He said the voters should place their trust on the party that could fulfil their aspiration.

"I hope you will consider this when you go and cast your ballots tomorrow," he said.

Abdullah said the people should not be easily duped by the various promises which could not be fulfilled.

A rainy weather is also expected in almost all states later in the day.

Meanwhile the Election Commission said that the first result is expected to be known as early as 7pm while the attaining of a simple majority is expected to be announced around 10.30pm.

Commission's secretary Kamaruzaman Mohd Noor said this was based on its preparedness for the election as well as the improved information and communications technology infrastructure it was using.

EC chairperson Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman expects about 75 percent of the registered voters to cast their votes.

Malaysiakini will be providing live reports as the results are known tonight.

PM: We won't cheat

Rights monitors and opposition leaders have warned the coalition, which has ruled for half a century, may use phantom voters and manipulate postal votes in tightly fought seats, but Abdullah rejected those allegations today.

"Enough of that. They are just looking for excuses in the event they do not win," he said in his Kepala Batas constituency, where he arrived to vote dressed in the blue of the BN.

"I am confident that everything will go on smoothly today. The question of rigging need not arise. Why are they thinking about that? Do they think we are cheats?"

Police laid on a heavy security presence at the Kepala Batas polling station, in a village surrounded by paddy fields and coconut trees, and made up of traditional stilted Malay houses.

"We should have a strong government. I am happy with Abdullah's leadership," said Ann Idris, 46, a Malay woman wearing the traditional headscarf who was lining up to vote.

"There is no need for a strong opposition to play the role of check and balance. The government can police itself."

Elsewhere in Penang late yesterday - the final day of the election campaign - PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim delivered a thundering speech to thousands of supporters, mostly Chinese who dominate the population there.

"We have no choice but to defeat the ruling government at all costs to save our country," Anwar told the crowd.

"In these 2008 polls, Malays, Chinese and Indians have to unite to ensure the Barisan Nasional falls," he roared. "It must be a battle by the people to throw out corrupt leaders."

Nik Aziz confident of winning if...

A major battleground in the campaign is Kelantan, the only state the BN does not hold and which it is hoping to snatch from the Islamic party which has ruled there for 18 years.

nik aziz angry and pas 020607"I am very confident of winning if there is real democracy in Malaysia and there is transparency in the system," Kelantan chief minister Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said as he cast his ballot in Kota Bharu.

"PAS should retain control because we have done a good job, honoured God's word and carried out Islamic doctrines," said Niz Aziz, who is also the spiritual leader of PAS.

Dressed in traditional white flowing robes and turban, he warned against a vote for the coalition, which has promised billions of dollars in development funds for the impoverished state.

"If BN takes control, they will dismantle everything we have done and there will be mixing of the sexes and the removal of halal practices," he said.

Political banners - the blue-and-white of the BN and green-and-white PAS flags - that have festooned the state were drenched in seasonal rains as voters walked along muddy village paths to polling centres.

Elderly Kelantanese women in traditional headscarves and flowing outfits walked alongside young relatives in jeans and shirts.

Kelantan is the last remaining stronghold for PAS after it suffered a decline in popularity in recent years, and it rules the 45-seat state legislature with just a single-seat majority.

The party of Islamic scholars has changed tack, dropping the hardline rhetoric that alienated voters in 2004 elections and focusing on bread-and-butter issues such as inflation and social welfare.

And so is Awang Adek

Elsewhere in Kota Bharu, Awang Adek Hussin, who is leading the BN's charge to retake Kelantan, was in a confident mood.

dr awang adek hussin"I believe the momentum is on our side," he told reporters. "BN will definitely lead with a comfortable majority."

Analysts say that out-of-state voters could be a deciding factor in the elections and both sides have tried hard to court them.

"There could be about 40,000 Kelantanese returning to vote from (Kuala Lumpur) as we have registered about 25,000 so there are definitely many more expected to turn up," Awang Adek told AFP.

The ruling coalition has denied opposition accusations of vote buying and planting phantom voters that it says could shape the outcome in this hotly-contested state.

"I have come to give my support for PAS," said 34-year-old Mohammad Kasturi Ismail, who drove the long distance from Kuala Lumpur with his wife and baby daughter. "They are the best government for our way of life," he said.

However, for fruit seller Iskandar Abdul Bakar, 48, a vote for the BN means much-needed development for the state.

"We should all vote for BN as they are offering us the best alternative," he said. "I am sure they will win today."

Today Malaysians decide

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1 more hour to go... wow... damn stress man.. although I already know the results but still, I'm hoping for miracles!!

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Ok, the counting starts... MAKKAL SAKTHI!!!

In the mean time, let's get more dulan with the gomen...

Lim Guan Eng @ DAP Bukit Mertajam Office, Taman Ciku (7 March 2008)

Part1 - Lim Guan Eng (Part1) @ DAP Bukit Mertajam Office, Taman Ciku (7 March 2008)
Part2 - Lim Guan Eng (Part2) @ DAP Bukit Mertajam Office, Taman Ciku (7 March 2008)

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After a day of polling, it's now down to the nitty-gritty procedures relating to counting.

At the close of the day, the presiding officer at the 8,000 polling stations across the nation will seal the ballot boxes in the presence of the candidates' polling agents.

All of them are to affix their signatures or seals on the ballot boxes. Then the Election Commission officer will compare the number of ballot papers issued based on his or her records with those not used in front of the polling agents. The numbers must match.

When all the ballot papers are accounted for, the presiding officer will reopen the boxes and proceed to count the ballots in front of the agents.

Each ballot paper will be shown to the agents as it is counted. Ballot papers which do not conform to the rules, such as spoilt votes, will be marked ‘rejected’ while the accepted ones will be added to the respective candidates tally.

After the votes are counted at the various polling stations, a statement of the results of the poll will then be sent to the returning officer at the central counting centre located in each constituency.

The returning officer, on receiving the results from the polling stations, will add all these votes, inclusive of postal votes, to determine the winner.

Once this is done, the returning officer will declare the winning candidate as the elected representative of that constituency.

Recount of votes

Where the number of votes differs from the number of ballot papers found in the ballot box by one percent, or the difference between the winning candidate and the losing one is two percent or less of the total number of votes cast, upon application of either of the agents, a recount shall be made only once.

However, the presiding officer has the discretion to order more recounts until he is satisfied that it is correct.

In this election, counting is done at the polling stations unless the state EC specifies a central counting centre.

Election Commission had earlier said that the first result is expected to be known as early as 7pm while the attaining of a simple majority is expected to be announced around 10.30pm.

Malaysiakini will be providing live reports as the results are known tonight.

Election petition

After the returning officer has announced the results, the losing candidate has the right to challenged it in court. However, it has to meet these conditions:

i) bribery, intimidation or any misconduct that may have affected the result of the election;

ii) non-compliance with election laws and regulations;

iii) corrupt or illegal practice committed by the candidate or any of his agents;

iv) the candidate or his agent found to be disqualified for the election.

The election petition must be made at the High Court within 21 days after the results are gazetted.

An election judge will then be appointed and if the court, after conducting a trial over an election petition, decides the election to be void, EC will give notice of a by-election for the constituency concerned.

Voting completed, counting begins

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Computer programmer Ong Guan Sin, 37, was intrigued when he heard that some postal voters on the electoral rolls are registered in two different constituencies.

So he decided to put his expertise to work.

Ong, who described himself as a concerned citizen, developed a programme which could determine whether the Election Commission’s (EC) online database of postal voters are registered in two places.

He obtained 563 randomly selected military identification numbers from the EC and run them through his programme.

Postal voting is presently restricted to military troops, policemen and teachers who are based far away from their constituencies.

What Ong found shocked him. Almost half of them have 'twin' voters registered in another parliamentary constituency

Ong said that a total of 278, or 49.3 percent, of the 563 postal voters are registered in two different constituencies.

mafrel military postal vote casting 060308 voteWhile the original voters and their twins share the name , their military identity card number is slightly different, where all had an additional '0' in their original six-digit IC number.

So too are the constituencies they are to vote.

In most instances, the year of birth of the voters are identical. In some other instances, however, they were different.

While the added numeral ‘0' may at first seem like a simple administrative mistake or technical glitch which could explain the duplication of the postal voters’ names, Ong however said that the parliamentary constituencies of these postal voters should not have been different. [See full list]

'Blatant effort of fraud'

A check by Malaysiakini with the EC’s online electoral roll confirmed that one Shamsuddin Jusoh, 52, of military identification number T0705196, for example, was registered to vote in the Pekan parliamentary constituency in Pahang.

Another Shamsuddin Jusoh, also 52, of military identification number T705196 was registered to vote in Setiawangsa, Kuala Lumpur.

Checks on several other postal voters’ names on the list of 563 provided by Ong were confirmed to have been repeated but registered as voters in different parliamentary constituencies.

"It is only blatant effort of fraud that can produce this," alleged the programmer when contacted today.

"Not only have they made the postal voting system intimidating and non-anonymous, they have gone one step further by doubling the postal voters," he added.

Ong urged the EC to explain the discovery of multiple registration.

mafrel pc 050308 abdul malek hussinOn Thursday, it was reported that Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) had discovered a total of 195 incidences of postal voters who have been registered several times under the same first and last names and born in the same year.

Mafrel chairperson Abdul Malek Hussein revealed that there are 46 ‘Ismail Ibrahims’ - all born in the year 1962 but registered as having different IC and living in 46 different localities - who have been registered to vote in various places throughout the country.

Similarly, 14 Ismail Jusohs, all born in the year 1966 but hold different identity card numbers (IC) and registered as living in 14 different localities, have also been slated to vote.

There may perhaps be many Ismails whose last names are also Ibrahim or Jusoh, said Malek.

"(But) that’s why we need mathematicians to help us come up with the (statistical) probability of male voters with same name and date of birth. What is the statistical probability of that?" he asked.

"We’re not saying all these Ismail Ibrahims are the same person. We’re just saying this is an issue that (leads to) serious doubt," he said further.

Programmer finds 'twin' postal voters

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Latest Update!

Jeff Ooi won the parliamentary seat!