Overseas Malaysians frustrated at late ballots ahead of election
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians living overseas reportedly expressed frustration on Sunday at ballot papers which they say will arrive too late for their votes to be counted in this week’s election.
New guidelines allowing ex-pats to vote by post may prove redundant for some voters when Malaysia goes to the polls on Wednesday, Channel News Asia (CNA) reported.
Some people said they will only receive their ballot papers in coming days, but the forms have to be received back in their constituencies in Malaysia by close of business on Wednesday. Malaysian student Ana (not her real name) lives in Nottingham, England and recently found out she won’t get her forms until Wednesday. “Surely the Election Commission knew the ballot papers would not reach here and be posted back in time,” she told CNA. “I especially feel saddened as this would have been my first time voting in a general election,” she added. Her frustration was shared by New Jersey resident Charlene Wong-podany who’s not due to receive her forms until Tuesday. “Short of chartering a private jet and flying off the moment DHL delivers my ballot papers, it’s impossible to get it back in time,” she said.
Nearly 5,000 Malaysians overseas have registered to vote, with the Election Commission chief Mohd Hashim Abdullah expressing confidence in the process to the media on Saturday.