KUALA LUMPUR – The Election Commission (EC) must now reveal what are the standard operating procedures (SOP) to conduct the 15th general election (GE15) in case of floods, Bersih said.
The elections watchdog coalition said the EC had yet to state what would happen should major floods strike during the election period and how early voting on November 15 and polling day on November 19 would be affected.
“The EC needs to immediately announce the SOP so that all parties, especially political parties, candidates and responsible agencies can prepare to face the flood disaster,” Bersih’s steering committee said in a statement.
The EC earlier today announced the dates for GE15.
Bersih said floods were already ravaging certain parts of the country, citing a recent episode on Langkawi island which affected 30 residential areas and some 38,000 people.
It also cited news reports of a bad storm in Besut, Terengganu, which destroyed more than 60 homes in seven villages.
“If the same disaster occurs, what is the SOP to continue or postpone the election in the voting district, or even worse the postponement of GE15 at the national level,” Bersih asked.
The coalition also said the 14-day campaign period was short and insufficient to cater to postal voters needing time to return their ballot papers in time for vote counting.
A campaign period of 21 days would be better so that parties’ machinery can reach more people, given the addition of over 6 million voters compared to the last election in 2018, Bersih added.
It also urged the EC to extend the closing period for Malaysian voters residing overseas to apply to be postal voters. The deadline for this is this Sunday. – The Vibes, October 20, 2022
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