KUALA LUMPUR – Two-time former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has called on the Election Commission (EC) to ban voters from bringing mobile phones into voting booths for the coming 15th general election (GE15).
He said this was one way to address possible fraud, adding that the EC should heed criticism about weaknesses in the voting system.
The 97-year-old, who is the Langkawi incumbent, said corruption and fraud will become a feature in GE15 if the EC refuses to address current weaknesses.
“Handphones can negate the secrecy of a vote, with the party using the information (captured on the device) to secure bribes.
“Voters can (use the phone) to show that they have voted for a certain party, and the party will hand over money (to the voter,” Dr Mahathir said in a statement on his Facebook page today.
Alleging that there are “many more faults” with the existing voting process, Mahathir, who is also Pejuang chairman, said that such failings should be fixed before GE15.
Expressing his support for Dr Mahathir’s suggestion, Pejuang legal bureau secretary Akif Rusli recommended additional measures which the EC can undertake, including employing more officers to conduct body searches on voters.
Sokong sepenuhnya.
— Akif Rusli (@AkifRusli) October 20, 2022
Saya cadang lantik petugas SPR [terdiri dr anggota polis, PBT & penguatkuasa lain] utk laksana pemeriksaan badan diluar bilik tempat mengundi.
Setiap 1 bilik tempat mengundi, adakan 2 petugas. 1 lelaki dan 1 perempuan.#MalaysiaMemilih#TolakUmno#PRU15 https://t.co/yb0Z8pQLVi
“I propose appointing more personnel – consisting of police, local government authorities, and other enforcement officers – to carry out body checks (on voters) outside the polling booths,” he said in a tweet.
“Every voting room should have two officers, one male and one female.”
Earlier today, the EC announced that polling for GE15 and state elections for Perlis, Pahang and Perak will be held on November 19, a Saturday.
The by-election for the Bugaya state seat in Sabah will also be held on the same day.
Nomination day is fixed on November 5, while early voting will be held on November 15. – The Vibes, October 20, 2022
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