[ Laman Ehwal Semasa ReformIS ]
Date: 08 Aug 1999
Time: 20:07:10
Remote User: -
Postal Ballots: A Black Hole in the Electoral Process As the coming general election approaches, many concerned individuals and groups have raised serious questions about the whole system of postal balloting for security personnel.
Postal balloting in Malaysia has always been something of a suspicious grey area in the electoral process; indeed, anecdotal evidence suggests that it is not just a grey area but a veritable black hole shrouded in a veil of secrecy. But no one from the ranks of the security forces, it seems, is willing to come forward to throw some light on the matter for fear of the repercussions.
Still, it is no secret that a serious lack of checks and balances characterises the whole process of postal voting, transporting of postal ballot boxes and counting of such ballots. What's more, few Malaysians know what sort of rationale is used to decide to which constituencies the postal ballots are to be sent. This must be made clear. The Election Commission must be transparent on this issue and the public has the right to be informed on this.
We wonder if all security personnel really do receive their postal ballot papers. Even if they do, are they really free to vote for opposition parties without fear of repercussions? Is it true that, in some instances, as alleged by certain quarters, officers have marked batches of their subordinates' ballot papers in favour of the ruling coalition? The fact that party election agents are not permitted to be present only serves to lend credence to all sorts of rumours.
To dispel these lingering suspicions, the Election Commission should insist on monitoring all voting by postal ballots in a transparent manner to ensure that no one exerts undue influence on security personnel, who have every right to vote freely for the candidates and parties of their choice. There is no reason why the Commission cannot allow agents from the various political parties to witness the voting, transporting of ballot boxes and counting of postal ballots.
Ideally, special polling stations should be set up at security camps where postal balloting will be carried out, and these should operate in much the same way as other normal polling centres under independent supervision.
With thousands of votes cast through postal ballots, it is crucial that the Election Commission looks into this "black hole". If not, the very integrity of the elections and the role of the Election Commission could be called into question.
Anil Netto Aliran Executive Committee 7 August 1999