Bagan Pinang: PAS Youth presents memo to EC

(The Star) – A four-member PAS Youth delegation presented a memorandum to the Election Commission to protest several regulations on postal voting for the upcoming Bagan Pinang by-election.

Led by its information chief Suhaizan Kaiat, the wing gave the memorandum to commission principal assistant secretary for elections Abd Hamid Ali at its headquarters here after a 20-minute dialogue.

Abd Hamid said the merits of the memorandum will be discussed at another meeting on Sept 28 with Pakatan Rakyat’s top leadership where PAS vice-president Salehuddin Ayub and secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali are expected to attend.

The memorandum rejected the use of Form II provided under Regulation 12 of the Elections (Postal Voting) Regulations 2003 because it violated the secrecy of voting, said Suhaizan.

“This is because Form II would be returned in the Envelope B to the Returning Officer along with the ballot papers that requires voters to fill in their full names, IC numbers and ballot numbers.

“When these details are provided, it makes it very easy to know which candidate was elected by any given voter,” Suhaizan told reporters after handing over the memorandum to Abd Hamid.

Suhaizan said Pakatan also wanted to abolish the practice where absent voters mailed in their votes instead of going to a counter as practised in Malaysian embassies overseas because it left room for manipulation.

“This is because there is no control by the candidates’ agents where they are allowed to be at the place of voting,” he said.

He said Pakatan also wanted candidates to be able to campaign and visit postal voters especially those living in military camps, as these places were often closed off to civilians.

“Opposition parties are not given the chance to campaign in camps but Barisan Nasional through the Defence Ministry could do so,” he alleged.