Postal vote still relevant

The postal voting system is still relevant to the democratic process and it cannot be abolished, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said.

He added if the postal voting system was rescinded, it would create public security problems because the security personnel have to leave their posts to vote, while overseas Malaysians would be deprived of their right as voters.

Nazri said that those who were eligible for postal voting were the police and military personnel, those who work and live overseas such as students, staff of embassies and high commissions and their spouses.

"The postal voting system can be improved, as seen by the demands by groups such as Bersih, and the Election Commission will study the suggestions made by such groups," he told Loh Gwo Burne (PKR-Kelana Jaya) in Parliament on Monday.

On the written reply to the Prime Minister made on July 5 concerning postal vote slips that couldn't be accepted by polling officers after 5pm on polling day, Nazri said the matter was outside the control of the Election Commission because postal votes would not be counted after 5pm.

On the many polls petitions on election results filed by individuals and members of political parties, Nazri said such petitions showed that the country practised democracy.
The legal process would sort out the outcome of the petitions, he added.