Malaysia’s Sabah state urged to consider postal voting for election due to coronavirus
- An estimated 250,000 Sabah voters live in Peninsular Malaysia but coronavirus restrictions will make it difficult for many to return home to vote
- Sabah called snap elections after weeks of electoral horse-trading resulted in several representatives declaring they would switch parties
An online petition by Malaysian electoral watchdog Global Bersih calls for Sabahans living outside the state to be given postal votes, although it has garnered only 5,400 signatures.
It cites public health concerns about Covid-19 and the cost of flying back to Sabah to vote, particularly as the nation’s lockdown has caused the economy to slump and many workers to lose income.
“It is within current laws and regulations for the Election Commission to enable Sabahans to be postal voters,” Bersih chairperson Thomas Fann said. “It is unlikely that many would incur the cost themselves or take the risk of travelling home to Sabah just to cast their votes.”
The expense is a deterrent for many, particularly Sabahans who are employed in lower-income jobs in places like Kuala Lumpur.