GE15: Allow absentee voting for Sabahans, Sarawakians in Peninsular Malaysia

KUCHING: The Election Commission (EC) should introduce reforms such as absentee voting to allow Sarawakians and Sabahans in other parts of Malaysia to vote without having to travel home in the 15th General Election (GE15), says Kelvin Yii.

The incumbent Bandar Kuching MP said such reforms were important to encourage greater voter participation in elections, especially in Sabah and Sarawak.

"Many Malaysians, including Sabahans and Sarawakians, are compelled to find jobs far from their homes due to unequal economic development among the states.

"It is estimated that up to 20% of eligible Sabahan and Sarawakian voters are living and working in Peninsular Malaysia.

"They should not be further burdened financially or put at risk, especially during a pandemic, by having to travel back to their constituencies just to exercise their fundamental right to vote," said the DAP youth chief in a statement on Sunday (Oct 16).

Yii said the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government should have used its position to compel the EC to introduce the necessary electoral reforms ahead of GE15, rather than finding ways to subsidise Sarawakians to travel back to vote.

He said real reforms would have a long-term effect compared to a stopgap measure which could come at a financial cost.

"Such reforms could have been prioritised to be put in place for the benefit of Sarawakians and Sabahans.

"All these reforms could have been done before elections were called to ensure it is safer, fairer and easier for more voters to be part of the electoral process," Yii said, adding that voting was not just a right for the rich or those who could afford to fly back to vote.