Malaysians out of the country who have failed to register as overseas voters after the midnight deadline must come back to vote come in the 13th general election, as the Election Commission (EC) does not have the power to change the deadline it gazetted.

“With regard to the deadline (for overseas voter registration) of 12 midnight on the day of parliament’s dissolution, the law states that there cannot be any extension to the original time as it has already been gazetted,” explained its chairperson, Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof

“I advise those who have failed to register before the deadline to look to themselves and ask why it happened that way, and return home to vote,” he added.

NONEMalaysians overseas who rushed to register themselves online via the EC website became frustrated after many of them failed to access the site and some experienced difficulties when sending their completed application forms to the commission’s email address.

The EC had previously stated that it may consider extending the deadline after allegations of technical problems facing its online registration facilities, adding that it was seeking legal advice over the matter.

‘DAP lying on forced postal voter registration’

Separately, Abdul Aziz also hit out at federal opposition party DAP for alleging that the commission is forcing all polling centre staff to register as postal voters, even if they are locals.

“DAP is lying, the truth is that the EC encouraged its presiding officers to appoint election officials from among locals who can vote in the constituency that they are serving in,” he responded.

He explained that the commission’s officers will only ask polling centre staff to register as postal voters as and when necessary.

“Only when they have no other choice should the presiding officer appoint outsiders, and these can apply to be postal voters.”

DAP assistant national publicity secretary Teo Nie Ching had alleged earlier today that EC officers briefing polling centre staff in January had told them that it was compulsory to register as postal voters despite them being locals, as they will not be allowed to go out to vote while on duty.

She claimed to have been informed of the matter by teachers from Serdang who were briefed on their upcoming duty as polling centre staff in GE13.

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