Biometric System During Election In Sabah

A world first in biometric use if plan proceeds

Malaysia may create history by being the first nation in the world to use the biometric system during a general election if everything goes according to plan.

"Even though this system is not new, so far it has only been used as a verification system such as during immigration checks, entering as a new player in the general election," Election Commission Deputy Chairman Datuk Wira Wan Ahmad said at the Federal Administration Complex here, Thursday.

The EC is currently researching details on the biometric technology it plans to use during the next general election. It would not release the technology until it is satisfied with the outcome of the tests it conducts.

"Only after we are satisfied will we let political parties and NGOs test the technology and give us feedback,"

He said certain people have evaluated the technology without any relevant information to back it up.

"As we have yet to test the system, how can these people evaluate the credibility of the system before even touching it first hand," he asked.

He advised those people to be patient and look at the final product before evaluating the system.

Further on the biometric system and criticisms that it is not fool-proof unlike indelible ink, he said the constitution does not allow for the EC to delete a name from the system until the next of kin reports the death to the NRD.

"We only take into account verified records, and it is not our duty to verify the records but the National Registrar Department's (NRD) task to do so," Wira said.

After it has been reported, the NRD will update their records and the EC system will consequently pick up the notification and delete the person's name, he said.

Every month the EC removes on average 7,000 names of people from the list that are confirmed to be dead, he said.

"A lot of people don't understand the technicality of the system so don't simply accuse us because it has to do with the credibility of both agencies," Wira said.

He said to register voters the EC requires help from political parties which allocate a number of members as assistant registrars and there are currently a total of 547 assistant registrars.

"Some registration forms have been rejected because of duplicate registration and some that had been registered only have Permanent Resident status," Wira explained.

Currently, the State has a total of 864,941 registered voters out of 1,169,884 eligible persons, he said.

Some 368,373 new voters were registered between April and June this year.

The number comprised 290,665 new voters and 77,708 applications to change polling stations.

Story Arrangement By: Harry George

Sources: Daily Express

Picture: Google Image