Press statement by YB Teresa Kok, Selangor State Senior EXCO and MP for Seputeh in Shah Alam dated 17 January 2011
If implemented, the proxy voting system proposed by Election Commission will legitimize phantom voting and further hijack democracy in Malaysia
Election Commission should clarify whether it really plans to implement a proxy voting system in Malaysia. If true, I would view this proposal is a ploy by EC to legitimize phantom voting, an electoral corruption which the EC has until today failed to address.
Proxy voting can only be transparent in countries with a history of clean, open elections but Malaysia, unfortunately, is not one of them.
EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof’s mere assurance the proxy voting would be monitored tightly does not give confidence and holds no credibility at all because history has shown that not only has the EC failed to uphold the integrity of our electoral process, it has even at the last minute backtracked from reforms it agreed upon.
In March 2008, the EC scrapped the use of indelible ink four days before polling, citing “public order and security issues” and the indelible ink which cost taxpayers RM2.9 million literally went up in
smoke when it was intentionally incinerated in November 2009.
Furthermore, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz stated that the proxy voting is but one of some 30 amendments to election laws in the country which the EC wishes to table in the coming Parliament sitting in March. I can only hope that among the 30 are amendments to allow Malaysian voters who are abroad to vote.
I urge Tan Sri Abdul Aziz to release the proposed amendments to the public, and allow public scrutiny and public debate before even attempting to table the amendments to the Parliament. If he fails to do so, he will further reinforce the common belief that the EC is subservient to Barisan Nasional, and complicit to the hijacking of democracy in Malaysia.
Teresa Kok
The Malaysian Insider
EC mulls proxy voting in election law changes
By G. Manimaran
Bahasa Malaysia EditorJanuary 16, 2011Abdul Aziz said the EC is considering several amendments to election laws. – Pic by Jack Ooi
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 — The Election Commission (EC) is studying the possibility of implementing a proxy voting system that would empower individuals to cast ballots on behalf of other registered voters.
EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof told The Malaysian Insider the proposal would be among some 30 amendments to election laws in the country that the commission hoped to table in the coming Parliament sitting in March.
The proposed amendments, he added, would likely be presented to the Cabinet next month and, once approved, should be implemented in time for the 13th general election.
What a bright idea for the Malaysia democratic system and what a good policy to deny a changes for the way to Putrajaya. The thing that need to be done is to upgrade the chip reader to used in every polling centre so that all identity card used are genuine and can only be used at one centre only. The Rakyat must make such abusive idea must not be used
What a stupid and rotten suggestion made by the EC! It shouldn’t be thought of in the first place, very unthinkable.
Such a crazy idea will pave the way for rampant money politics. Votes can be bought with money then. Democracy will be dead!
I never ever trusted these guys in EC. Most of them are either under UMNO/BN corrupted and greedy politicians control or the remainder are downmright stupid. These guys are not fit, i repeat not fit to ruin even a kindergarden by themselves. So what do the rakyat expect from them. With such disgusting and stupid proposal, they made themselves a bunch of manupulating clowns of their UMNO/BN politicians to the rakyat and the whole world.
PKR must unite and fight the next GE13. Dont ever forget to kick these bums assess out of EC at once.