PUTRAJAYA: The Election Commission (EC) will act based on the law on the issue of voting rights, its deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said.
He was referring to a High Court decision yesterday, where six Malaysians in Britain were granted leave for an application to compel the EC to register them as absent voters in the next general election.
Wan Ahmad said: “As far as the commission is concerned, we work based on the law.
“So the question of pressure on the commission should not arise at all,” Wan Ahmad told The Star in a telephone interview.
While the commission would await the court hearing on the matter, Wan Ahmad warned the six applicants of the implications of their suit, pointing out that these included the logistical costs to facilitate voting abroad, which would be borne by public funds.
Under the existing law, only civil servants, members of the armed forces and their spouses as well as students overseas are allowed to vote through the post.
“Malaysians are located all over the world and their votes can be for any of the hundreds of constituencies.
“Wisma Putra sources have also told us that not all Malaysians overseas have registered their addresses abroad with local embassies.
“The country must be prepared for these costs if such a law (for Malaysians to vote from abroad) is passed,” he said.
In their suit, the six applicants wanted Malaysians staying abroad to be entitled to vote as absent voters and directed the EC, named as the sole respondent, to register them.
High Court (Appellate and Special Powers) judge Justice Rohana Yusuf has set Dec 13 for case management and Jan 3 for the hearing.
2012 Bar Council Subscription Click the link above to download Circular 072/2012 pertaining to the 2012 Bar Council subscription, including the payment guide and a set of Frequently-Asked-Questions.
2012 Hotel Corporate Rates Attending seminars? Going for a holiday? Click on the link above to check out the list of hotel corporate rates for Members of the Bar, which is updated regularly.
Bar Council Bookshop Read MORE … but pay LE$$! Members enjoy a 20% discount on LexisNexis publications at the Bar Council Bookshop. Click on the link above for the list of available titles.
International Malaysia Law Conference (26 to 28 Sept 2012) Hurry up! The countdown continues and the current promotion rate ends 30 June 2012. Don't miss what is going to be the best conference in the region! On top of that, if you sign up with 5 or more people from the same organisation, we will give you a 10% group discount. Click on the link above to register.
Talk on Summary Judgement (25 May 2012) Organised by the Selangor Bar Committee, this talk will take place at 5:00 pm, at the Selangor Bar Committee Auditorium, on 25 May 2012 (Friday). The talk will be conducted by Ramesh Supramanian. Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on Tax Issues in Financial Transactions (25 May 2012) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Professional Development Committee, this seminar, featuring S Saravana Kumar, will take place at 3:00 pm, at the Kuala Lumpur Bar Auditorium, on 25 May 2012 (Friday). Click on the link above for more details.
Dialogue with Criminal Law Practitioners (26 May 2012) Organised by Bar Council, this dialogue will take place at 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, at the Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium, Bar Council, on 26 May 2012 (Saturday). Click on the link above for more details.
Conference on Competition Law (31 May 2012) Organised by Bar Council with the support of LexisNexis, this conference will take place at 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, at Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel, on 31 May 2012 (Thursday). For more details or to register, please contact Vilashini Vijayan (03-2050 2095; vila@malaysianbar.org.my). Click on the link above for more details.
Talk on What Clients Want (7 June 2012) Organised by the KL Bar Practitioners' Affairs Committee, the talk, presented by Ong Eu Jin, will take place at 5:00 pm, at the KL Bar Auditorium, on 7 June 2012 (Thursday). Click on the link above for more details.
4th LAWASIA Family Law Conference, Penang (13 and 14 July 2012) Supported by Penang Bar Committee and the Malaysian Bar, this conference, themed “The New Global Family: Emerging Trends and Challenges to Family Practice”, will take place at Traders Hotel, Penang, on 13 and 14 July 2012 (Friday and Saturday). Click on the link above for more details.
News 
©The Star (Used by permission)
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Circular No 109/2012: Be a Part of the Bar Council Constitutional Law Committee
