Balloting from abroad possible via postal vote, says EC

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

Mar 14, 2012

EC emissary authority Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar told members of a PSC upon electoral reforms which any alternative routine would be "difficult" to execute. file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Mar fourteen Malaysians vital abroad will only be able opinion in a next general election if they use a postal choosing by casting votes system, a Election Commission (EC) said today.

EC emissary authority Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar told members of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) upon electoral reforms during a closed-door assembly which any alternative routine would be "difficult" to execute due to a miss of infrastructure as good as registered electorate abroad.

"Overseas voting, a EC has come behind to us thatit can be finished though by a postal choosing by casting votes process," PSC authority Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili told reporters after a assembly had ended.

Ongkili said, however, which it competence not be possible for a EC to implement any form of abroad choosing by casting votes if national polls were held in a near future.

He additionally said a EC emissary chairman's remarks had not sat good with a little of a PSC cabinet members, who have uttered "reservations" about a postal choosing by casting votes system.

"In a spirit of perplexing to reduce a series of postal voters...it competence not be unchanging with this stand.

"However, you let it float for an additional week as well as see what happensto be unsentimental although you wish to reduce postal votings, in certain cases it's just unavoidable," combined Ongkili.

He additionally said it would be difficult to set up list boxes as well as mobilize polling agents in a 220 Malaysian embassies worldwide.

"It competence not be practical," he added.!

< div> At present, only polite students, full-time students as well as their spouses vital abroad have been allowed to vote.

Ongkili said which there have been now an estimated 2,000 registered Malaysian electorate vital overseas.

Another PSC member, Anthony Loke told reporters which a cabinet has nonetheless to confirm either to accept a EC's offer upon abroad voting.

"There have been reservations from a little of a cabinet members, though zero has been decided yet.

"We will encounter next Tuesday to finalise," a DAP Rasah MP told reporters.

The PSC's last inform is approaching to be tabled in Parliament upon Apr 2.