GE14: No surplus votes in Kubang Kerian, says EC

PUTRAJAYA: There was no issue of surplus votes in Kubang Kerian at the 14th general election as reported in the media, says the Election Commission (EC).
EC in a statement yesterday clarified that allegations of an additional 20,000 ballot papers were issued was the result of a typing mistake on the total number of votes issued in GE14 Gazetted Results gazetted on May 28.
"The actual total of ballot papers issued for the election (Kubang Kerian) in GE14 was 64,867 and not 84,867 as printed.
"In this regard, EC expressed its regrets and apologised for the mistake on the total and has taken immediate steps to make correction on the gazette," he said.
According EC, the mistake did not change the number of votes obtained by each candidate contesting as announced in the earlier gazette.
A local daily yesterday reported the existence of more than 20,000 votes in the Kubang Kerian parliamentary constituency in GE14 and raised questions on the possibility of phantom votes.
The report also mentioned the votes were confirmed in EC's gazette on May 28 issued by the Attorney-General's Chambers.
The Kubang Kerian seat was won by PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man after obtaining 35,620 votes to beat Barisan Nasional (BN)'s Datuk Seri Muhammad Abdul Ghani and PKR candidate Datuk Dr Abdul Halim Yusof who polled 16,251 and 11,557 votes respectively. — Bernama