PKR moots democracy incentive for first-time voters

PKR calls on the caretaker government to give what they call a democracy incentive to first-time voters to encourage them to cast their ballots on Nov 19.

The incentive is also meant to help reduce the cost of transportation for voters to travel home to vote.

In a study done by PKR, communications director Lee Chean Chung said that there are two groups of first-time voters.

He said the first group are people who are not aware that they have been automatically registered and are able to choose their country’s leadership.

“The second group are the people who are ready to vote on Nov 19 but have financial constraints to go home to vote,” he told a press conference at the PKR headquarters today.

He said that PKR would leave the method of distribution and amount of the incentive to be decided by the government but stressed that the process must be transparent.

Previously, the Sarawak government suggested a similar initiative to help young Sarawakians to fly back to the Borneo state to cast their votes.

However, electoral watchdog Bersih warned that this is an offence if the incentive recipients are asked to vote for a particular candidate or party.

Bersih added that under Section 20 of the Election Offences Act 1954, if the travel subsidy is not provided to all voters and comes with preconditions to vote for a particular candidate or party, it then becomes an offence that carries a maximum fine of RM5,000 as well as being barred from voting or standing as an election candidate for five years.

The electoral group concluded that whoever offers subsidised fares for voters to travel home to cast their ballots must ensure that the offer is for all, regardless of their political leanings.

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