KUALA LUMPUR: The Election Commission (EC) is engaging with political parties as it studies proposals to improve voting access for Malaysians living overseas, including the possible introduction of an e-voting system ahead of the next general election, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said based on input received from the (EC), the Commission is currently examining all matters related to efforts to improve the management of overseas postal voting, including both short-term and long-term solutions.
"The Commission will take into account the views and feedback provided by political parties, as well as other stakeholders involved in the engagement sessions, before making any consideration or decision regarding improvements to the overseas postal voting mechanism," she said in a written reply in response to a question from Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah).
Mas Ermieyati had asked the government to state the concrete measures being taken by the government, as well as the implementation timeline of the e-voting system currently being formulated, to ensure that Malaysians residing overseas are able to vote more easily, transparently, and securely ahead of the next GE.
Malaysians living overseas are currently allowed to vote through the overseas postal voting system, which is administered by the (EC).
Eligible voters include Malaysians residing, working or studying abroad, as well as civil servants and students posted overseas.
Under the existing system, overseas voters must register in advance and submit their ballots by post, either through Malaysian diplomatic missions or by international mail, within a specified timeframe.
