Poll watchdog rep gets death threat

By Tony Thien

Malaysiakini

2006-05-27 | A Sarawakian representative of the Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) fears for his safety as well as his family after receiving threats on the telephone.

Lawrance Gamjap, 38, the election watchdog's monitor for N1 Opar and N 2 Tasik Biru received a threatening phone call on May 24 and a death threat via SMS (short messaging service).

He believes that the threats are linked to a May 16 police report lodged by 12 Opar voters in Bau regarding an alleged vote-buying case.

Gamjap filed a police report against the threats today. He was accompanied by Mafrel chairperson Abdul Malek Hussin.

According to him, the SMS also implied that harm would come to his aged mother.

Commenting on this, Abdul Malek said the matter was serious and the police should carry out a speedy investigation to determine who was behind the threats.

Election petitions

Meanwhile, a group of five Iban voters in Balai lodged a police report over alleged money politics during the May 20 Sarawak polls.

They were accompanied by defeated Snap candidate for Balai Ringin Ibi Udin. Abdul Malek was also present.

The five complainants were Mail Surek, 46, Kemenden Mo, 38, and Sana Kalang, 30, from Pantu and Ampet Raweng, 59 and and Banyng Gelum, 63, from Serian.

Abdul Malek told malaysiakini he had been approached by several candidates and their supporters in other areas who also wanted to lodge police reports or file election petitions against successful Barisan Nasional candidates.

The unsuccessful opposition candidate for Ba'kelalan Baru Bian told malaysiakini he would be filing an election petition to declare the election of BN candidate Nelson Balang null and void on the ground of alleged money politics in the distribution of government grants during the campaigning period.

"There could possibly be at least three election petitions being filed on the same ground," said Baru.

Reference Links

• Malaysiakini