Fraud fear in overseas votes via post

(Harakah) – The plan to allow Malaysians abroad to participate in postal votes at the coming general election could be open to fraud, warned Pakatan Rakyat.

PAS election director Dr Hatta Ramli said the plan should be transparent but as it is now, it could be “easily manipulated”, he told a press conference with DAP’s Anthony Loke.

The duo had represented PR in the nine-member parliamentary select committee on electoral reforms, which suggested the overseas voting to be introduced among its 32 recommendations to improve the electoral system.

Hatta pointed out that the Election Commission should not impose any condition on overseas voters.

“In fact, we propose that postal voting from overseas should be simplified without conditions,” he added.

Loke meanwhile disagreed with EC’s claim that the Election Act 1958 would have to be amended before overseas voting could take place.

He said it was sufficient to add clauses under its “Regulations of Postal Voters” 2003 and “Regulations of Electors” 2002 to make overseas Malaysians eligible as absentee voters.

Loke said this was similar to how media personnel are allowed to vote by post, adding that any amendment could take up to six months,

“The mechanism is there, EC just needs a clear definition for postal voters and the mechanism, that’s all”.