GE14 | Some 30 overseas Malaysians staged a protest against the Election Commission in London yesterday over the late arrival of ballot papers for the 14th general election.

The protest, organised by Bersih UK, took place in front of the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board office near Trafalgar Square at noon, local time. However, the tourism office was closed as it was a bank holiday in the UK.

Most of the protesters were dressed in Bersih’s trademark yellow, and repeatedly chanted “EC, where are our postal votes?”, “EC sabotages postal votes,” and “We want a clean and free election.”

Some held placards bearing the words “Where is our ballot paper?”, “EC is a liar,” while other signs bore cartoons by Zunar.

In her speech, Bersih UK coordinator Dr Yolanda Augustin took aim at the EC for its apparent incompetence in handling overseas postal voting.

“It is because the campaign period is too short for us to receive the ballot papers. These are lost votes, and the EC has spent taxpayers’ money to send the ballot papers overseas,” said Augustin, a registered Petaling Jaya voter.

Bersih UK mulling a legal challenge

She also said that Bersih UK was mulling a legal challenge against the EC for the mismanagement of postal votes.

Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown also made an appearance at the protest in a show of solidarity.

When called upon to deliver a short speech, Rewcastle-Brown urged the protesters to spread the message since they have “truth on their side.”

“You do have a chance, you have numbers on your side, you have truth on your side, and hopefully, thanks to the work of journalists – and indeed Sarawak Report – you have knowledge on your side. So use those weapons, use them well,” she said.

Amnesty International Malaysia executive director Shamini Darshni, who is furthering her studies in the UK, read out the organisation’s ‘Eight-point human rights agenda for election candidates’.

The demonstration attracted the attention of some tourists and passers-by, who stopped to take photos and videos. It lasted for an hour before protesters dispersed peacefully. Police were not present during the protest.

Global Bersih had previously condemned the late arrival of ballot papers, which it said made it impossible for overseas voters to send them back in time for the general election on May 9.

However, EC chief Mohd Hashim Abdullah dismissed the complaints, insisting that the 11-day campaign period gave overseas voters enough time to mail their marked ballot papers.

Caretaker deputy home minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed was similarly dismissive, stating last Sunday that the number of overseas voters was insignificant and would not affect the overall outcome of the general election.