PETALING JAYA: Global Bersih has called for a minimum 21-25 day campaign period for the upcoming Sarawak state election, ensuring those living overseas can exercise their right to vote without depending on extraordinary volunteer-led ballot-running operations.
Global Bersih president Nirmala Devi Windgaetter said that with the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly dissolved and the election timetable yet to be announced, the Election Commission (EC) must ensure overseas postal voters have enough time to receive, complete and return their ballots.
"During the 2021 Sarawak State Election, the campaign period was only 12 days. Some overseas voters received their ballots too late to return them, while others received theirs only after polling day.
"The challenges became even more apparent during the 15th General Election (GE15) in 2022, when the number of overseas postal ballots issued nationwide increased from 7,979 in GE14 to 48,109," she said in a statement on Friday (Oct 30).
"With a campaign period of just 14 days, overseas Malaysians organised extensive ballot-running operations involving volunteers, travellers, and diaspora organisations.
"Global Bersih, together with other civil society organisations and overseas Malaysian communities, supported efforts to facilitate the return of ballots during GE15 and subsequent state elections," she said.
She added that Global Bersih will not organise or coordinate ballot-running operations for the upcoming Sarawak state election, but noted the decision does not diminish its commitment to overseas voting rights.
"We will continue our efforts on voter education and on advocacy and engagement with the relevant authorities to improve the electoral process for Malaysians overseas," she said.
She also called on the EC to set a minimum campaign period of 21-25 days before the upcoming state election, taking into consideration actual international postal and courier delivery times.
Global Bersih also called for timely overseas postal voter registration and communication, a secure and traceable ballot delivery process, and close coordination with Wisma Putra and Malaysian foreign missions.
"Publish comprehensive post-election postal voting statistics, including ballots issued, returned, received late and rejected, to enable proper evaluation of the system," she said.
She added that Global Bersih welcomes the EC's announcement that applications for overseas postal voting under Category 1B for the upcoming Sarawak state election have been open since Oct 26.
"We strongly urge all eligible Sarawakians living overseas to register for postal voting as soon as possible rather than waiting until the closing date, which has yet to be announced.
"Global Bersih also urges the EC and Malaysian foreign missions to actively publicise the registration process, provide clear guidance, and widely communicate the application deadline to ensure eligible overseas voters do not miss the opportunity to participate," she added.
