Man claims he was shortchanged over 'fake' Citizens' Declaration signatures

A man today claimed that he was cheated by a person who had allegedly purchased nearly 900,000 names from his database to forge signatures for the Citizens' Declaration.

Azharuddin Othman, 26, told a press conference that the names were needed to collect 1.2 million signatures and he was contacted by the person on April 27 with promise of RM5,000 in payment.

The database, he said, was one that was made available to all political parties during the 13th general election.

The freelance programmer from Terengganu, however, said he has only received RM1,000 of the amount promised.

According to his statutory declaration (SD) that was distributed to the press, Azharuddin said he was informed the names would be used for the Citizen’s Declaration memorandum project, to be presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

In his SD, Azharuddin also said he was informed that former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad did not want his name to be dragged into the "lie".

"I knew the person from a friend and we had met before. Our communication (for the transaction) was also not the first time," he said at a press cconference, alongside suspended PKR member Badrul Hisham Shaharin or Chegubard.

He said the transaction was conducted via online, with the money transferred to his account after the name lists were sent to the person via several e-mails.

Azharuddin also said the person who had contacted him was called Ema or better known by her online persona 'Ratu Naga'.

When quizzed by reporters whether he was aware that 'Ratu Naga' is infamous online, Azharuddin said he did not know.

In February, Syarul Ema Rena Abu Samah, 26, was charged under the Communications and Multimedia Act with posting allegedly defamatory status against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on the Facebook account Ratu Naga.

Badrul Hisham, meanwhile, described the situation as embarrassing and that he "sympathised" with leaders and supporters who have been allegedly lied to.

"From the very beginning I have said that Mahathir and his 'cartel' will never change.

"They will do anything to achieve their ambitions," he claimed.

Malaysiakini has contacted 'Ema' a and the Citizens' Declaration secretariat chief Kamaruddin Jaafar for response. - Malaysiakini report