Election watchdog Bersih 2.0 called on Malaysians, especially those from Sabah and Sarawak, to join the movement pushing for a total overhaul in the current postal vote system.

The abuse of postal votes reached its peak when most of the 18,363 postal voters in the April 16 Sarawak state election were not from the state but their votes could have tipped the results, said Wong Chin Huat, a member of Bersih 2.0 steering committee.

The activist-cum-researcher pointed out that only 31 of the postal voters were overseas, the rest were from the military (11,738) and police (6,591) who had been posted to Sarawak for duty.

NONE Another equally disturbing fact is that postal voters are not allowed to choose the constituency they have interest in but only in the constituency where they are based, he said.

Their votes have been hijacked to the constituency in which they have no interest in. They are not only relocated but also 'allocated' to certain constituencies to tip the election results (of that particular constituency, Wong ( right ) added.

In the recently concluded state polls, over 1,000 postal votes in Senadin had helped SUPP retain the seat with a wafer-thin majority of 58 over PKR.

Disfranchised by lack of work

On the other hand, the Sarawakian diaspora forced to work in other states by poverty and underdevelopment at home had been disenfranchised, said Wong.

Maybe it is time for East Malaysians to walk in Kuala Lumpur, he said.

The urgency to review the current postal vote system was highlighted at a press conference called today by Bersih 2.0 and another election monitoring NGO Malaysian Election Observers Network (MEO-Net).

Wong suggested that postal votes be made available to all voters residing away from their states with the right to choose their constituency.

Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan commented that purpose of the postal vote system is to accommodate the absentee voter but most of the current postal voters actually can vote in person.

But those genuine cases were not allowed to be registered. The whole purpose (of postal vote) was defeated, we want to know why? We think (the reason is that) it is easy to abuse.

She cited the footage take by the DAP during the campaign which showed a man allegedly purchasing postal votes from four women at a polling center for postal votes, to emphasise the possible abuse in the current system.

We intend to oppose postal vote more rigorously because now we know the possible abuse, added the former Bar council president.

Resign call to Sabah, Sarawak EC officials