Home Coalitions Clean and Fair Elections SPR harus memberi maklumat yang jelas mengenai pengundian di luar negara

SPR harus memberi maklumat yang jelas mengenai pengundian di luar negara

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[ENGLISH VERSION BELOW] Bersih 2.0 kecewa dengan keengganan Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) untuk memberi maklumat asas kepada pengundi dan pihak-pihak berkepentingan mengenai prosedur pengundian luar negara.

SPR masih tidak memberi sebarang petunjuk mengenai proses pengundian luar negara pada PRU ke-14 yang akan datang. Hal ini telah menyebabkan pelbagai kekeliruan, bukan sahaja dalam kalangan pengundi di luar negara, tetapi juga bagi mereka yang bekerja di kedutaan dan konsulat Malaysia.

Selepas banyak cubaan untuk meminta penjelasan daripada SPR, Bersih 2.0 telah mendapat tahu tentang sepucuk e-mel di mana SPR telah mengesahkan bahawa rakyat Malaysia di luar negara akan dapat mengundi sebagai pengundi pos dalam PRU14.

Dalam pilihan raya negeri Sarawak 2016 dan pilihan raya kecil baru-baru ini, kemudahan mengundi di kedutaan tidak disediakan dan pengundi terpaksa menghantar kertas undi mereka kembali ke Malaysia sendiri. Bagi pilihan raya negeri Sarawak, Bersih 2.0 telah melaporkan bahawa pengundian di luar negara tidak dilaksanakan dengan baik dan pengundi tidak dapat membuang undi mereka. Khususnya:

  • tempoh yang sangat pendek untuk permohonan menjadi pengundi pos.
  • kertas undi tiba di rumah pengundi hanya dua hari sebelum hari mengundi dan mereka tidak mempunyai masa yang cukup untuk mengirim balik ke Malaysia.
  • tiada peluang untuk pemerhatian parti atau bebas ketika pengeluaran dan penerimaan kertas undi pos.

Bersih 2.0 menggesa supaya SPR menjelaskan secara terbuka tentang proses pengundian di luar negara yang akan dilaksanakan. Pejabat Bersih 2.0 sering menerima pertanyaan daripada pengundi yang keliru akibat diberi pelbagai maklumat yang bercanggah tentang bagaimana mereka boleh mengundi di luar negara. Sebarang perubahan daripada proses dalam PRU13 perlulah memudahkan pengundian dan meningkatkan keselamatan serta ketelusan proses tersebut.

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Kami turut menuntut SPR untuk melaksanakan cadangan Bersih 2.0 tentang pengundian secara tidak hadir yang dikemukakan kepada SPR pada 16 Mei 2017. Proses yang dicadangkan akan meluaskan akses kepada pengundian secara tidak hadir dan memastikan ketelusan dan keselamatan proses. Ia termasuk menyediakan pusat mengundi di luar negara yang ditetapkan (seperti kedutaan dan konsulat) untuk pengundian awal, yakni satu hari sebelum hari mengundi nasional dan pengiraan undi di pusat-pusat mengundi untuk mengelakkan kemungkinan penipuan ketika penyimpanan dan pengangkutan undi.

Pembaharuan sedemikian boleh dilakukan melalui pemindaan peraturan-peraturan yang mudah dan merupakan salah satu langkah untuk memulihkan keyakinan orang ramai terhadap SPR.

Jawatankuasa pemandu Bersih 2.0

English version:

The Electoral Commission must give clear information on overseas voting

Bersih 2.0 continues to be frustrated by the Electoral Commission’s reluctance to provide clear information to voters and various stakeholders on basic voting procedures, especially regarding overseas voting.

The commission has given no indication publicly on how it intends to conduct overseas voting in the upcoming general election. This has caused a lot of confusion, not only for Malaysian voters overseas, but also for those working in Malaysian embassies and consulates.

After many attempts to clarify the processes with the commission, Bersih 2.0 has sighted an email, in which the commission has confirmed Malaysians overseas will be able to vote as postal voters in the coming general election.

In the 2016 Sarawak state election and recent by elections, voting facilities at embassies were not provided, and voters had to courier their ballot papers back to Malaysia themselves. For the Sarawak state election, Bersih 2.0 reported that overseas voting was poorly implemented and voters were unable to cast their ballots as a result. In particular:

  • there was an extremely short period for applications to be a postal voter.
  • ballot papers arrived at voters’ homes just two days before polling day, which was not enough time for them to be posted back to Malaysia.
  • there was no opportunity for independent or party observation of the issuance and receipt of these ballots.
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Bersih 2.0 urges the Electoral Commssion to publicly clarify the process they will implement for overseas voting. The Bersih 2.0 Office frequently receives queries from confused voters who are given conflicting information on how they can vote overseas. Any changes from the process in the last general election must further facilitate voting and enhance security and transparency of the process.

We further demand the commission implements Bersih 2.0’s proposal for absentee voting, submitted to the commission on 16 May 2017. The proposed process would expand accessibility to absentee voting and ensure transparency and security in the process. It includes having designated overseas polling stations (such as embassies and consulates) for advanced voting one day before ordinary polling day and vote counting at these polling stations to prevent possible fraud in the storage and transportation of ballots.

Such reforms can be done through simple amendments to regulations and will be a step towards restoring public confidence in the Electoral Commission.

Bersih 2.0 steering committee

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.

AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
  1. Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
  2. Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
  3. Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
  4. Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
  5. Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
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