KUALA LUMPUR – Sarawakians living in other states will not be allowed to cast their votes via post come the state election due by next August, the Dewan Rakyat has been told.
This is despite concerns about Covid-19, which saw a spike in cases following the Sabah by-election in September.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan (PAS-Kota Baru) advised Sarawakians who work or live in other states to update their voting districts.
Under the law, he said, postal voting is permitted only for certain groups, including Election Commission staff, polls officers, and on-duty army and police personnel.
Others include media practitioners outside their voting areas; voters residing overseas, except for Brunei, Singapore, Kalimantan and southern Thailand; absentee voters; and, on-duty staff with nine government agencies.
“At this time, the EC does not plan to allow postal voting for Sarawakians outside the state, be it in the peninsula or Sabah, for the coming state election,” said Takiyuddin in a written parliamentary reply yesterday.
“The EC encourages voters to apply to change their voting district based on their current place of residence, to facilitate voting during a general election or by-elections.”
He was replying to Ong Kian Ming (PH-Bangi), who wanted to know if postal voting will be allowed in the next Sarawak election for voters who live outside the state.
This is necessary should the coronavirus situation in the country not come under control in time for the polls, said Ong.
The Sabah election has been blamed for Malaysia’s third virus wave, with cases increasing during the campaign period and surging further after polling day.
To avoid a similar situation repeating in the state’s Batu Sapi, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on November 18 declared an emergency in the constituency, effectively cancelling its December 5 by-election. – The Vibes, December 15, 2020
