'477% increase in Rela an election dirty trick?'

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has demanded the home minister explains the staggering 477 percent increase in Rela (Ikatan Relawan Rakyat Malaysia) members since 2008, asking if this is a “dirty trick” to boost the BN's vote bank ahead of the next general election.

“I urge Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein to explain why the Home Ministry has increased Rela members by 477 percent between 2008 and 2010, when Malaysia is not under the threat of war or natural disaster.

“Hishamuddin must justify the increase in the cost of emolument and personal accident insurance premium that the government now has to bear,” the MP (right) said in a statement today.

In his written reply to Kok's question in Parliament, Hishamuddin had revealed that as of Dec 31, 2010, there were 2,593,263 registered Rela members throughout the country.

“Of this number, 19 percent are located in the state of Selangor,” notes Kok.

The increase represented a “walloping two million or 477 percent from 543,375 in 2008," said Kok.

“This two million increase is most alarming and highly suspicious, because it occurs after the 12th general election in 2008, when Pakatan Rakyat won 51 percent of the popular vote and gave Barisan Nasional the biggest thrashing it has ever had.

“Had a mere 300,000 more voters cast their ballot in favour of Pakatan Rakyat, BN would be the opposition party today,” she said.


EC must come clean

Kok charged that the sudden boost is “politically motivated” to “expand political support for the BN in the upcoming general election”.

This, she said, has been further aggravated by rumours that the Elections Commission (EC) may grant Rela members postal voting rights.

The Armed Forces' postal votes have been traditionally considered a BN 'fixed deposit', and a sore point for those demanding fair elections.

While the EC had last year stated that Rela members were not qualified to vote as postal voters, Kok today charged that speculation was rife that this situation this may change.

“There are rumours that the Election Commission may grant Rela members the right to vote as postal voters by amending the Elections Act 1958 and the Elections (Postal Voting) Regulations 2003.

“The EC can do this by either amending subsection 3(1)(c) - removing the restriction on 'Police Volunteer Reserve Force' - or expanding subsection 3(1)(f) of the Elections (Postal Voting) Registrations to include Rela members,” said Kok.

She demanded a clarification from the EC to put a stop to the widespready belief.

“We have not heard any public response from the EC on this