Allow prisoners and detainees to vote
R KengadharanPublished: Aug 26, 2011 11:50 AM | Updated: Aug 26, 2011 9:43 PM
COMMENT The setting up of the parliamentary select committee on electoral reforms is to be welcomed. This is necessary so as to reach consensus in facing the next general election without any suspicions or perceived manipulation and this effort may dispel any misconception.
COMMENT The setting up of the parliamentary select committee on electoral reforms is to be welcomed. This is necessary so as to reach consensus in facing the next general election without any suspicions or perceived manipulation and this effort may dispel any misconception.
Any electoral reforms undertaken upon recommendation will enhance and strengthen our own peculiar parliamentary democracy and such reforms are necessary so as to monitor the behaviour and actions of political parties and their candidates.
No political party should be allowed to gain an unfair and vulgar advantage in an election and every form of manipulation and institutionalised fraud (if any) must be vigorously condemned and rejected and any violations or breaches must be dealt with sternly, and if necessary the candidate must be disqualified.
However, prior to holding the general election it is utterly necessary for the government to clean up the electoral roll. Of late serious allegations have been made about foreigners, dead folk, phantom voters and allegations of permanent residents being given voting rights. If not investigated, they could effectively undermine and threaten our parliamentary democracy.
The Election Commission in its commitment to parliamentary democracy, fair play, good governance and transparency must consider and study the use of indelible ink and the use of a biometric system. I urge that this system must be made mandatory and the federal constitution must be amended to facilitate the above.
With regard to advance voting, the suggestion put forward by the Election Commission is quite encouraging for it would be subjected to scrutiny by political parties/agents.
‘Present blanket ban completely illogical’
In addition to the above the Election Commission has a legal obligation to let/allow prisoners and detainees to vote in general elections and by-elections and the present blanket ban is completely illogical, certainly discriminatory and a serious violation of human rights. The continued reluctance to allow prisoners and detainees to vote is a most serious offence.
For instance in the United Kingdom prisoners in remand awaiting trial, fine, defaulters and people jailed for contempt of court are already permitted to vote. Juliet Lyan, director of the Prison Reform Trust, told the BBC on Nov 2, 2010 that “Many prison governors believe voting is an important part of resettlement and prison is about rehabilitation as well as punishment”.
Similarly Frances Crook, director of The Howard League for Penal Reform, said “The right to vote was a good means of engaging individuals with the responsibilities of citizenship ahead of a safe return to the community”.
It must never be forgotten that the right to vote is the cornerstone of a democracy and any laws that prevent anyone from voting could upset the political process. No democratic process can and should disenfranchise its citizens’ right to vote. In Malaysia, the Election Commission must successfully dismantle this prohibition permanently.
R KENGADHARAN is a former ISA detainee.
Related stories:
EC 'penalising' DAP with new voter rule
Some cry foul over 'automatic' voter listing
Changes to overseas postal voting need 2 months
DAP cautiously lauds postal voting changes plan
EC, spell out what reforms are doable
But why such resistance to indelible ink?
Overseas M'sians can vote: Good news 'hopefully'
Any electoral reforms undertaken upon recommendation will enhance and strengthen our own peculiar parliamentary democracy and such reforms are necessary so as to monitor the behaviour and actions of political parties and their candidates.
No political party should be allowed to gain an unfair and vulgar advantage in an election and every form of manipulation and institutionalised fraud (if any) must be vigorously condemned and rejected and any violations or breaches must be dealt with sternly, and if necessary the candidate must be disqualified.However, prior to holding the general election it is utterly necessary for the government to clean up the electoral roll. Of late serious allegations have been made about foreigners, dead folk, phantom voters and allegations of permanent residents being given voting rights. If not investigated, they could effectively undermine and threaten our parliamentary democracy.
The Election Commission in its commitment to parliamentary democracy, fair play, good governance and transparency must consider and study the use of indelible ink and the use of a biometric system. I urge that this system must be made mandatory and the federal constitution must be amended to facilitate the above.
With regard to advance voting, the suggestion put forward by the Election Commission is quite encouraging for it would be subjected to scrutiny by political parties/agents.
‘Present blanket ban completely illogical’
In addition to the above the Election Commission has a legal obligation to let/allow prisoners and detainees to vote in general elections and by-elections and the present blanket ban is completely illogical, certainly discriminatory and a serious violation of human rights. The continued reluctance to allow prisoners and detainees to vote is a most serious offence.
For instance in the United Kingdom prisoners in remand awaiting trial, fine, defaulters and people jailed for contempt of court are already permitted to vote. Juliet Lyan, director of the Prison Reform Trust, told the BBC on Nov 2, 2010 that “Many prison governors believe voting is an important part of resettlement and prison is about rehabilitation as well as punishment”.
Similarly Frances Crook, director of The Howard League for Penal Reform, said “The right to vote was a good means of engaging individuals with the responsibilities of citizenship ahead of a safe return to the community”.
It must never be forgotten that the right to vote is the cornerstone of a democracy and any laws that prevent anyone from voting could upset the political process. No democratic process can and should disenfranchise its citizens’ right to vote. In Malaysia, the Election Commission must successfully dismantle this prohibition permanently.
R KENGADHARAN is a former ISA detainee.
Related stories:
EC 'penalising' DAP with new voter rule
Some cry foul over 'automatic' voter listing
Changes to overseas postal voting need 2 months
DAP cautiously lauds postal voting changes plan
EC, spell out what reforms are doable
But why such resistance to indelible ink?
Overseas M'sians can vote: Good news 'hopefully'
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