Ann Teo
KUCHING (July 28): The Coalition for Fair and Clean Elections (Bersih) Sarawak has proposed radical measures in voting and campaigning to enable the state election to be held safely within 60 days after the Emergency is expected to end on Aug 1.
In a press statement today entitled ‘Elections must be safe, not delayed’, Bersih Sarawak chairperson Ann Teo said without fundamental changes, even delayed elections may not be safe.
She said efforts should be made to reduce the crowds on polling day and travel to return to constituencies.
“We propose advance voting for those residing out of state but have polling addresses in Sarawak and postal voting for those residing in Singapore, Brunei, Kalimantan, and Southern Thailand with a minimum of 21 days campaign period, to allow for enough time to post ballots back to the state.
“Secondly, in-person canvassing and rallies during the campaign period should be largely replaced by broadcast campaigning, making it safer for the voters and party workers too,” she said.
Teo said as Sarawak is marginalised in terms of internet connectivity, the Election Commission (EC) must use its constitutionally-enshrined powers under Article 115 of the Federal Constitution to arrange for state-owned Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) and TV Sarawak to televise party leaders’ debate and allocate free airtime for all candidates in all constituencies.
She suggested the EC could also plead for the goodwill of private television channels to enable informed choices for Sarawakian voters.
“Thirdly, but not the least, would be to consider increasing the number of polling days from one to two days alongside enforcement of specified time slots for each voter to cast their ballot,” she said, adding this would reduce the number of voters at the polling station at any given time.
On the matter of waiting for the EC to inform the state government of the election standard operating procedures (SOPs), Teo said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and his cabinet should instead demand for a safe election.
“They must demand for the above special voting mechanisms to be implemented to enfranchise Sarawakian voters and to provide for opportunities for broadcast or digitalised campaigning as conditions for a safe state election.
“We are confident that the federal government and the EC will heed the request by the Sarawak state government and the people. As with the Chief Minister, we are also painfully aware that the mandate of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) has expired and elections are necessary to choose the new government, we are also concerned with the preparedness of all parties to go into an election now,” said Teo.
She added that it was disappointing to note that the decision-makers appear unprepared on the state election.
“Civil society, including Bersih Sarawak, has long called for the EC to speed up the absentee voting reform by expanding the categories that are eligible to vote either as postal voters or as an advance voter. This has been our recommendation since mid-2020 when it was thought that the Sarawak state elections would be held that year.
“In the age of the pandemic where there are interstate and inter-district travel restrictions as well as quarantine rules and orders, special voting arrangements, which are methods allowing voters to cast their vote without turning up in person to vote at a polling station, must be the primary step for any election management body to take along with the other health risks-mitigating SOPs,” she said.
Teo pointed out that Sarawak’s voter turnout pre-Covid times has always been one of the lowest in the country at 73 per cent in 2018 parliamentary election.
“Without modifying or broadening these absentee voting mechanisms, we are likely to see a much lower percentage of participation for the Sarawak state elections. This would not augur well for legitimacy,” she said.
She pointed out as there are already existing legal provisions in place for postal and advance voting in Malaysia, there are no reasons why they cannot be expanded to cater for a larger group, including Sarawakian voters residing out of the state in Peninsular Malaysia, Labuan, Sabah, and in other neighbouring Asean regions.
Pursuant to the State Constitution, elections will need to be held within 60 days of the dissolution the State Legislative Assembly (DUN).
The DUN would have reached the end of its term on June 6, 2021 but for the Emergency, which is expected to end on Aug 1.