Kit Siang defends ex-soldiers over postal vote fraud claim
The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 — DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang today praised four former soldiers who revealed they were allegedly ordered to mark thousands of postal ballots during their service.
Chief of Defence Forces Gen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin yesterday termed the ex-soldiers’ claim as an “act of betrayal” and denied their allegation, claiming that they were being used by “certain quarters”.
“In actual fact, the ex-military personnel who came forward to expose postal vote fraud are the true patriots, who love the army and the country as they want to see the army continue to be held in the highest esteem by all sectors of society and the country restored to the right track of a healthy democratic nation,” said Lim (picture) in a statement.
“Zulkifeli’s rhetorical question ‘How can we be loyal to you if you are disloyal to us’ is not only misplaced, but is the classic example of how far the public service, of which the armed forces are part, has deviated from its proper non-partisan and professional role,” added the Ipoh Timur MP.
Lim pointed out that Zulkifeli should instead allow candidates to send polling agents to military establishments to supervise the postal voting process.
At a PAS press conference on Wednesday, the former soldiers revealed how they were allegedly instructed by their commanding officers to mark the ballots on behalf of other servicemen.
Zulikefli, however, reportedly said yesterday that voting by soldiers was clean, transparent and done in a professional manner without any interference from higher ups.
He added that the balloting process was monitored by representatives of all the contesting political parties and independent observers.
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