Survey: M'sian embassies vague about postal voting
Published: Jul 27, 2011 6:19 PM | Updated: Jul 27, 2011 7:04 PM
A polls watchdog group representing the votes of the Malaysian diaspora abroad has found that Malaysian embassies are not consistent in handling postal voting, while some have claimed to have no clue on its procedures.
Global Bersih says Malaysian missions overseas are not aware of postal voting procedures in order for citizens abroad to vote.
A polls watchdog group representing the votes of the Malaysian diaspora abroad has found that Malaysian embassies are not consistent in handling postal voting, while some have claimed to have no clue on its procedures.
Global Bersih, an extension of the local Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) has discovered after researching 21 missions that most are not equipped with the knowledge, although the Election Commission (EC) is supposed to have appointed assistant registrars for all Malaysian missions after amendments to the Elections (Registration of Electors) Regulations in 2002.
“Our findings show that Malaysian consular staff around the world are unfamiliar with the postal voter registration and voting process. At best, full-time students are welcomed to register as postal voters at the embassy.
“However, regarding the details of the registration and actual voting process, answers differed from one mission to another,” stated the report compiled by MyOverseasVote, a group lobbying for the recognition of voting rights to all Malaysians abroad.
According to the report, employees at several embassies, for example in Bangkok and Mumbai, are not aware of postal voting and are still awaiting instructions from the EC and the Foreign Ministry.
Meanwhile, embassies that do deal with postal ballots are inconsistent in their procedures, especially in using the ‘Form-A’ as some allow the voters to take the forms home and return them in person once completed.
“Some missions recommend (one insisted) that the form be returned to the EC directly (bypassing the embassy). (For instance) in Sydney, you have to write a letter of request for Form-A and provide a self-addressed envelope.
“Some missions do not accept postal voter registrations all year round (as such in) Rome and Berne.
No single mechanism to vet applicants
“They have to wait for the green light from Wisma Putra. Once the signal is given, the missions will call up eligible postal voters to invite them to register. Malaysians overseas are advised to register their details with their local missions so they can be contacted if need be,” it said.
In Los Angeles, the embassy does not require voters to show proof of identification prove and this raises the question on how the embassy determines whether the voter is a student or a Malaysian settled there.
“The Malaysian passport lists the carrier’s profession but one’s profession can change during the lifespan of the passport. In Singapore, they ask you for a letter from your college.
“The EC does not seem to have a stringent nor consistent way to vet applicants based on their status as a student. As such, we are not convinced that ‘security’ is the reason for barring working or retired Malaysians overseas from voting,” it added.
On a related matter, the report also raised concerns on certain embassies barring non-government sponsored students from engaging in postal voting, despite the EC reminder that there must not be any discrimination and all full-time students are allowed to vote.
Global Bersih reiterated that Article 119 of the federal constitution guarantees every citizen’s constitutional right to vote in an election provided (a) he or she has attained the age of 21; (b) is resident in a constituency or, if not so resident, is an absent voter; and (c) is registered in the electoral roll as an elector in the constituency in which he or she resides on the qualifying date, unless he or she is disqualified under the law.
However, this right has been amended under the Elections (Registration of Electors) Regulations 2002 so that of the Malaysians residing overseas, only four categories are allowed to register as absent voters.
Those who fall under these categories are serving members of the armed forces, public servants serving overseas, full-time students studying overseas and spouses of the three categories who are living with their spouse at the date of application for registration.
According to MyOverseasVote, an estimated one million Malaysians live and work outside the country, the majority of whom are neither civil servants nor students.
Global Bersih, an extension of the local Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) has discovered after researching 21 missions that most are not equipped with the knowledge, although the Election Commission (EC) is supposed to have appointed assistant registrars for all Malaysian missions after amendments to the Elections (Registration of Electors) Regulations in 2002. “Our findings show that Malaysian consular staff around the world are unfamiliar with the postal voter registration and voting process. At best, full-time students are welcomed to register as postal voters at the embassy.
“However, regarding the details of the registration and actual voting process, answers differed from one mission to another,” stated the report compiled by MyOverseasVote, a group lobbying for the recognition of voting rights to all Malaysians abroad.
According to the report, employees at several embassies, for example in Bangkok and Mumbai, are not aware of postal voting and are still awaiting instructions from the EC and the Foreign Ministry.
Meanwhile, embassies that do deal with postal ballots are inconsistent in their procedures, especially in using the ‘Form-A’ as some allow the voters to take the forms home and return them in person once completed.
“Some missions recommend (one insisted) that the form be returned to the EC directly (bypassing the embassy). (For instance) in Sydney, you have to write a letter of request for Form-A and provide a self-addressed envelope.
“Some missions do not accept postal voter registrations all year round (as such in) Rome and Berne.
No single mechanism to vet applicants
“They have to wait for the green light from Wisma Putra. Once the signal is given, the missions will call up eligible postal voters to invite them to register. Malaysians overseas are advised to register their details with their local missions so they can be contacted if need be,” it said.
In Los Angeles, the embassy does not require voters to show proof of identification prove and this raises the question on how the embassy determines whether the voter is a student or a Malaysian settled there.
“The Malaysian passport lists the carrier’s profession but one’s profession can change during the lifespan of the passport. In Singapore, they ask you for a letter from your college. “The EC does not seem to have a stringent nor consistent way to vet applicants based on their status as a student. As such, we are not convinced that ‘security’ is the reason for barring working or retired Malaysians overseas from voting,” it added.
On a related matter, the report also raised concerns on certain embassies barring non-government sponsored students from engaging in postal voting, despite the EC reminder that there must not be any discrimination and all full-time students are allowed to vote.
Global Bersih reiterated that Article 119 of the federal constitution guarantees every citizen’s constitutional right to vote in an election provided (a) he or she has attained the age of 21; (b) is resident in a constituency or, if not so resident, is an absent voter; and (c) is registered in the electoral roll as an elector in the constituency in which he or she resides on the qualifying date, unless he or she is disqualified under the law.
However, this right has been amended under the Elections (Registration of Electors) Regulations 2002 so that of the Malaysians residing overseas, only four categories are allowed to register as absent voters.
Those who fall under these categories are serving members of the armed forces, public servants serving overseas, full-time students studying overseas and spouses of the three categories who are living with their spouse at the date of application for registration.
According to MyOverseasVote, an estimated one million Malaysians live and work outside the country, the majority of whom are neither civil servants nor students.
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