‘Help for voters must be given sincerely’

PETALING JAYA: Want to help someone exercise their civic duty to vote? Go ahead, just make sure there are no strings attached.

Any form of assistance to help registered voters should be given with sincerity, said former Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusof (pic).

Relating his experience as the EC chairman, Abdul Aziz said he had held talks with then Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed if acts by individuals, groups or corporations that provide financial aid or transportation to help those returning to vote was deemed as corruption.

 

 

“If you help a person to return home but impose conditions by saying things like ‘I will give you this money or that assistance but you must go back and vote for this particular candidate’.

“And if they also ask you to provide evidence that you voted for the particular candidate, that, according to the MACC, is corruption.

“However, how do you show proof that it is corruption because your vote is a secret? No one knows your vote except you,” said Abdul Aziz yesterday.

He was asked to comment on efforts by Malaysians who have set up a website to connect with others in need of transportation or travel subsidy in order to get home to vote.

The #PulangMengundi was a trend started by some concerned people on Twitter to help other Malaysians travel home to vote on May 9 and this inspired a team of five to start a website.

Abdul Aziz said helping others to exercise their voting rights is good.

“Some people live in Sabah or Sarawak or some live overseas and it is too expensive to come home, so if someone helps them, then it is good.”

Abdul Aziz said that on polling day, political parties help, too, by providing transportation to get the voters to their polling stations.

He, however, said that such assistance must be given without imposing any condition.