Airfare subsidy for voters in China to return for GE13

Registered voters residing in China may be able to return to Malaysia for the 13th general election without the burden of hefty airfares, as Bersih Shanghai is seeking to subsidise the cost.

In launching its ‘Go Back To Vote Campaign’ today, the Shanghai outfit of the electoral reform coalition said it wished to help Malaysian voters who required financial support to fly home to cast their ballots.

Shanghai Bersih said in a statement that the campaign aims to subsidise a minimum of RMB500 (equivalent to RM250) per applicant.

However, it stressed that the subsidy would be subject to available sponsorship and given on a first-come, first-served basis.

“We have received the first batch of sponsors of (up to) RMB15,000 to kick off the campaign and there will be at least 30 voters who will get subsidised airfares.

“We will increase the available sponsorship if we receive further contributions,” the statement reads.

Interested Malaysians should fill up the application form available online .

'Adopt same standard overseas'

Shanghai Bersih is also seeking to collect and publish the list of registered voters in China in order to promote its campaign to encourage Malaysians to return for GE 13.

“Shanghai Bersih believes that the general election is one of the most decisive factors and institutions deciding whether a nation grows prosperous or fails, (and) it will decide the fate of our country and affects all level of people,” it said.

As for postal votes, it reiterates it's demands that the same standard for vote-counting employed in Malaysia be adopted at overseas polling station.

These include the appointment of counting agents to verify the number of ballots, ensure each ballot is properly issued and counted, and for the ballots cast to be counted at the respective polling stations before being sent to Malaysia.

On Jan 31, Malaysians living overseas launched a ‘ Jom Balik Undi ’ campaign to get fellow citizens abroad to return home to vote in the coming general election.

 

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