KUCHING: Leaders from the state government and the opposition agree voters should be allowed to vote wherever they are.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hazmah said it is time for the Election Commission (EC) to facilitate eligible Malaysian voters – wherever they are – to cast their votes, even if they are overseas or longer in their villages.
“We are now in the digital era. Even bank transactions can be done online and it is safe.
“So, EC can look into online voting,” he told New Sarawak Tribune when asked for opinion on the matter.
Abdul Karim, who is the Asajaya assemblyman, said that EC can do so (online voting) instead of making it mandatory for physical vote casting and allowing postal voting for certain categories of voters only.
It was reported that De facto Law Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar had said in Parliament that EC was studying ways to implement a voting system which could be facilitated through either postal or online voting.
“There are many Sarawakians and Sabahans residing in Peninsular Malaysia and many from Peninsular Malaysia residing in the two states who should have the opportunity to exercise their democratic right to vote.
“It is our (the government’s) responsibility to ensure they can vote wherever they are,” he said in response to Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii.
Meanwhile, PBB Youth chief Miro Simuh concurred with Wan Junaidi that those who are eligible to vote must be given full access to cast their vote.
“There are so many means and ways that we can use, especially nowadays with modern applications and Internet of Things (IOT) which allow voting to be done at any place in the world.
“There is no need for them to change their voting constituency as long as the system is applicable to allow them to vote,” said Miro, who is the Serembu assemblyman.
Echoing Miro was Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) vice president Datuk Henry Harry Jinep who said that allowing voters to vote wherever they are is beneficial to all and should be supported.
“This is something that voters have been looking forward to, to vote for their respective constituency wherever they are.
“This must be implemented throughout the whole country, not only for Sabahan or Sarawakian, because there are also many West Malaysians working and residing in East Malaysia,” said Henry, who is the Tasik Biru assemblyman.
Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum said if the matter becomes a reality, it will be good as it moves with time.
Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB) president Bobby William also said that it is a good move to allow voters to vote wherever they are.
“The danger here is that procedures in place may not be sufficient to prevent fraud and manipulation,” he said.
