KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — The government has no plans to review or change the postal voting system for the police and armed forces, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz today.
Nazri said the Election Commission (EC) does allow representatives of parties contesting in a particular election to witness the voting process to ensure it was carried out in a fair and transparent manner.
"EC feels the postal voting system is still relevant in accordance with election procedures," said Nazri in Parliament today when replying to a question by Datuk Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman (PAS-Pengkalan Chepa) who wanted to know if the government had any plans to change the system.
He refuted Abdul Halim's claim that there were 2.5 million names of dead voters on the electoral list, because the EC updates the electoral list every six months according to a list provided by the National Registration Department.
Nazri said the status of wives' of police and armed forces personnel would also remain since the EC does not intend to change their status to normal voters.
"If the wife lives with her husband who is on duty in Sarawak but registered as a voter in Pengkalan Chepa, it does not make sense for her to return to Pengkalan Chepa to vote since it involves cost, logistics and other matters," he said.
He added that the postal voting system provided an opportunity for the police, armed forces, civil defence forces and students studying abroad to fulfil their obligation as voters.
"However, that does not mean the EC will not improve certain aspects of the system because they (EC) are always responsive to changes," he said.
He added that it has become the norm for the opposition to start complaining to the EC whenever it loses an election.
"Barisan Nasional does not resort to such action even if the loss involves postal votes," he said. — Bernama
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