KOTA KINABALU, May 29- The Election Commission (EC) has been urged to insert photograph of voters in the electoral roll to avoid abuse of identification cards by unscrupulous individuals.
However, the EC voter registration secretary Yusniati Ishak told the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into Sabah’s immigrant problem the proposal requires study to ensure it is beneficial.
When questioned by conducting officer Manoj Kurup why photograph was not inserted, she said the EC never made photograph a requirement to register as voter.
Yusniati testified today, registered voters in Sabah rose dramatically since 1982 but was unsure if the EC conducted a study on the increase in the number of voters.
The proceedings was held before a panel comprising former chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak, Tan Sri Steve Shim Lip Kiong, former Universiti Malaysia Sabah vice-chancellor, Prof Datuk Seri Dr Kamaruzaman Ampon, former Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Henry Chin Poy Wu, former Sabah sercetary Datuk Kee Mustafa and former Sabah deputy chief minister and former attorney-general Tan Sri Herman J.Luping.
According to the EC data in 1982, Sabah had 350,609 registered voters, an increase of 149,748 from 208,861 in 1978 and rose to 959,669 in August last year.
Yusniati said the number of registered voters dropped between 1969 and 1978. In 1969, there were 295,880 voters and the number dropped to 230,469 in 1974.
Sarawak Immigration Department director Datuk Robert Lian said he never received any report of illegal entry of foreigners at all 31 entry points in the state.
“Usually, they (foreigners) appear before immigration officers. This is the law,” he said adding Sarawak Immigration Department also held meetings with the Immigration Department of Sabah, Labuan and Brunei.
During the meeting with Sabah Immigration Department, they did not discuss the problem of illegal immigrants in Sabah.
-BERNAMA
