Media statement by Stephen Jacob Jimbangan in Kota Kinabalu on Wednesday, 25^th May 2011:

Use thump-print and MYcard readers in elections

The many problems on the verification and identification on the true identity of the eligible voters is continuously the headache of the SPR (Malaysia Election Commission).

In the many past elections whether it is of by-elections, state or general elections, there were many voters found to be at fault while checking through with the SPR, and some had successfully gone through and voted. The faulty voters ("hantu") were often using fake identity cards, other people's identity, and even photo-stated Mycards to go to vote. Some even caught with processing a few ID cards in hand. The use of other people's identity is common, and we usually find quite many people (the Phantoms) who even voted many times in different streams at the same polling centre. The used of the dead person's voting right is also a common practice while the deceased name is still listed in the electro roll.

No measure is as secure and without foul play by enforcing the use of one's finger/ thump print. The thump print reader is readily available in the market at a very low price and it is commonly used in a lot of banks now. Why can't the SPR equip with the finger print readers in every polling centre to enable the voters to be checked correctly and to screen out the fake voters with fake MYcards? It is easy to install the computers and its program to verify identity of a person using the finger prints and the details fixed on the MYcard. If SPR don't have the many computers, the schools and government departments surely have them, and can lend these computers to SPR for use in the election. The MYcard readers are also readily available nowadays and the price is cheap too. With the identities of the voters from the National Registration Department (JPN), the SPR can easily verify the identity of a person just like the banks do.

If the government is working on the program to upgrade the MYcard and its micro-chips, it is easy enough for the SPR to follow up to upgrade their checking system to ensure all voters are genuine without phantom voters to disturb our elections which are highly unfair.

If SPR is not going to adopt and impose a fair and clean election system, then they are at fault and the whole election commission will be no longer creditable and trust-worthy. I urge the SPR to seriously consider my proposal and meet the requirement as soon as possible in order to bring along a clean election during the fore-coming 13^th General Election.

* Stephen Jacob Jimbangan, Sabah DAP Kapayan Branch Chairman