KUCHING: The Election Commission (EC) have been urged to look into setting up more forward looking alternatives for electors to cast their votes.
Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts (MTCP) Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah pointed out that flight tickets are costly and the EC is not making it easy for the voters from outside their home states to return and exercise their rights.
“If those from outside Malaysia and the armies are able to do postal voting, why not give the option to those outside their own states to do so as well? They should be able to do it for others if they want to. These people only need to register for it.
“Or the EC can also look into digitalising casting of the votes. If we can trust the online banking system, why can’t the EC trust and create such a system to be used for voting?
“I would like to see a more advanced system to be used. That is the way forward. EC jangan tidur (EC don’t sleep). You have to look into a more forward looking (alternative) that can create a better election system,” he urged.
He said this during a press conference after officiating the Malaysia Inbound Chinese Association (MICA) Foliday Campaign and B2B Networking at Waterfront Hotel on Monday (Oct 17).
When asked if such alternatives (online voting or postal voting) will be implemented in the 15th General Election (GE15), he said it will be impossible as the parliament has been dissolved and it will be hard to amend the laws and legislations on it.
“But for future elections, the system has to be improved. I still believe that we have to improve the system to be online (as we are in the digitalisation age).
“You just need smart guys to create the system and make it foolproof. This matter needs to be studied so that citizens can exercise their duty to vote,” he said.
On another matter, Karim expressed his understanding of the complexity of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s announcement on plans to provide subsidies for students in West Malaysia to return to Sarawak to vote.
“This is because paying for the voters to come back will be an election offence. Even though we do not know who they will vote for, the act of financing and subsidising their flight back can be seen as an election offence.
“So we have to study the matter deeply. I am sure that the EC and our Premier would love to see those who are eligible to cast their vote. But if they see it as an offence, we have to really look into it because we do not want to commit any offences when it comes to elections.
“Whoever wins the election, including the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), we would want to win without being tainted,” he said.
