PETALING JAYA: Some Malaysian foreign missions overseas are still sharing wrong, outdated information about overseas voting on their websites, says election watchdog Global Bersih.
In a statement issued on Sunday (June 25), Geneva-based Global Bersih stated that some Malaysian foreign missions are sharing erroneous information on their websites.
Global Bersih was part of the movement which assisted overseas Malaysians to send home their votes in time in past general elections.
This comes after registration for overseas voting opened on June 24.
Global Bersih urged all overseas Malaysians eligible to vote in the upcoming state elections to register as overseas postal voters and ensure that their addresses are up to date.
“Overseas Malaysians have to re-register as overseas voters for each election. Global Bersih is appalled that some Malaysian foreign missions overseas are still sharing wrong and outdated information about overseas voting" it said.
It added that erroneous information is being shared on websites of Malaysian High Commissions.
Global Bersih then said that this includes the High Commission in Wellington, New Zealand which is sharing information from the 13th General Election asking overseas Malaysians to register manually at the Malaysian foreign mission office and receive ballot papers there.
It said obsolete requirements and information like the need for for 30 days presence in Malaysia within five years before the elections or that the voting age is 21 is being shared.
Global Bersih also said that misinformation is being shared on the website of Malaysia's High Commission in Muscat.
“It states that the voting age is 21 and that overseas Malaysians can only register at a Malaysian foreign mission office to become a voter," it said.
Global Bersih also said that many Malaysian foreign missions such as in those Hong Kong, and New York have no information at all regarding overseas voting in general or on the upcoming state elections.
“It is unacceptable that Malaysian foreign missions are providing inaccurate or no information on overseas voting processes given that they are the first point of contact for overseas Malaysians to obtain reliable information," said Global Bersih.
It added that this misinformation will further confuse the Malaysian diaspora, saying that it is very often forgotten in voter mobilisation efforts.
“Our main recommendation is for Wisma Putra to centralise all overseas voting-related information on its portal, on the Foreign Ministry website, which should include links to the relevant information on the Election Commission's website," said Global Bersih.
It added that all information should be in Bahasa Malaysia and English to ensure effective messaging, and the link should be shared by all Malaysian foreign missions worldwide on their respective websites.
Global Bersih said that this should be done so that all inquiries are directed to the main information page on Wisma Putra portal.
"This will help ensure that accurate, consistent, and updated information is shared without burdening individual Malaysian foreign missions,” stated Global Bersih.
Six states, namely Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan, are expected to hold their respective state polls in the coming weeks.
