EC urged to allow postal voting for more Sabahans due to Covid-19

CORONAVIRUS | The electoral reform group Global Bersih has urged the Election Commission (EC) to extend postal voting to more Sabahans in the coming state election.

This is in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has made travelling back to Sabah to cast ballots a health risk as well as a significant financial burden especially for those who recently lost their income.

“This option should be provided to the many Sabahan voters living in other states in Malaysia, as well as to those residing outside the country, including in neighbouring Asean nations (Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, and Southern Thailand).

“The EC has an important responsibility to ensure that all Malaysians can, in practice, exercise their constitutional right to vote.

“Providing the option of postal voting would help address several practical barriers which would prevent many Sabahan voters residing outside Sabah today from exercising their right to vote,” the group said in a statement today.

Global Bersih is an offshoot of the Bersih movement that comprises mainly of Malaysians living abroad.

In previous elections, only those living outside Malaysia and neighbouring countries are eligible for postal ballots, as well as people with certain occupations such as the election workers, police and military personnel, and media practitioners who are on duty on polling day.

Meanwhile, Global Bersih noted Pos Malaysia announcement on July 31 that it was suspending international postal deliveries due to service disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

It urged the EC to ensure there are systems put in place for postal voting despite the disruption.

It also urged Malaysians to sign an online petition to pressure the EC to allow postal voting for Sabahans living in Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.

As of writing, the petition has gathered nearly 5,000 signatures.

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