Upko Pkr Mp Call For Postal Voting In Upcoming Sabah Polls

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Tuaran MP Wilfred Madius Tangau has urged the Election Commission (EC) to allow postal votes in the upcoming Sabah election, in a move to overcome systemic barriers faced by East Malaysians living in the peninsula.
In a statement today, Tangau, who is also honorary president of the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko), suggested that such measures would help strengthen democracy and public participation in the electoral process.
"For me, this step should be implemented to ensure that the people of Sabah who are outside their home state are not prevented from fulfilling their democratic responsibility and rights.
"Many Sabahans in the peninsula face difficulties returning home during elections due to the difficulty in obtaining flights, high flight fares, in addition to the difficulty in obtaining leave and time constraints.
"This postal voting proposal can help them fulfil their obligation to the country without bearing a huge burden," he said.
Further, Tangau emphasised that the move could also strengthen the principles of justice and inclusivity, which form the basis of the country’s electoral system.
Hence, he urged EC to review existing regulations, including implementing an early voting system and improving information channels for Sabahans outside the state.
"We need to ensure that the right to vote can be enjoyed by all citizens regardless of their location. A transparent and secure postal voting system will allow more Sabahans to participate in the democratic process," he added.
400k Sabahans in peninsula
Echoing his sentiments, Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung highlighted that 400,000 Sabahans reside in Peninsular Malaysia, and they could be excluded from the electoral process.
“The implementation of postal voting not only helps increase voter turnout, but also allows Sabahans in the peninsula to closely follow political developments in their home state, including understanding the offers of political parties and candidates.
Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung“This move should not only be for the sake of convenience, but can also reduce election costs, and should be included as part of the electoral reform agenda.
ADS"Further, if Sabahans living abroad are allowed to submit their ballots via post, then there should be no reason why Sabahans within the country cannot be afforded the same rights,” the PKR lawmaker said in a statement today.
At present, there are two types of postal voting in Malaysia under EC laws, which fall under Categories A and B. Under the latter provision, Malaysians living abroad are allowed to be registered as postal voters.
However, Category A postal voting for those in the country is only open to five groups - namely EC members, election workers, media personnel who are covering the election, and police and military personnel who cannot turn up to vote during the designated early voting day.
Call not new
Both Lee and Tangau reminded Putrajaya of how several NGOs and politicians have urged similar measures in the past.
This includes groups such as Sabah Action for Body Rights (Sabar) and Tindak Malaysia, who have called for amendments to the Registration of Electors Regulations - including categorising a special class of absentee voters to consider the electors of Sabah, Sarawak, Labuan, and Peninsular Malaysia, who reside outstation (within Malaysia) as postal voters.
Earlier this year, Sabah PKR chairperson Mustapha Sakmud had also shared a similar view.
However, the EC announced in 2022 that such plans are not under consideration.
The 2022 general election postal votes collected from Malaysians residing in MelbourneLee also emphasised that if postal votes were introduced for East Malaysians, the process should be done diligently, encompassing all aspects of the voting process.
"Ballots must be received and returned before polling day. If the ballots arrive late, then the implementation of this system will only be in vain," he said.
In previous elections, critics have noted the delay in the arrival of overseas postal voting ballots, leading to NGOs and volunteers offering to deliver thousands of ballots from abroad during the previous general election.  - Mkini

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