Expand early voting for safer Melaka elections, EC told

PETALING JAYA: Early voting should be expanded to the public to make the voting process safe during the Melaka election, says a health think tank.

Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy CEO Azrul Mohd Khalib said he was surprised and disappointed that early voting has not been expanded to the public to ensure that people could vote over the course of a couple of days.

“Limiting voting to only one day will see a congestion of large groups of people and crowds at voting centres. This is a misstep by the Election Commission (EC),” he told FMT.

Azrul said there would certainly be a surge in new Covid-19 positive cases adding that breakthrough cases were likely. As at Oct 17, 91.4% of Melaka’s population have been vaccinated.

“However, what we are concerned about are the number of people needing hospitalisation and dying as a result.

“The recommendations and SOPs are the same as they have always been. The problem is whether people – the public and the politicians – will listen, understand and behave in a safe way,” he said.

Azrul reiterated that there was a need for proper social distancing, wearing of face masks, using hand sanitisers and avoiding closed and crowded spaces.

However, he said no amount of policing or enforcement would work unless people were proactive and supportive of these measures.

Azrul also predicted a low turnout as people might not be fully convinced that elections can safely be held.

Like Azrul, Bersih 2.0 chairman Thomas Fann also agreed that early voting should be considered, suggesting a three-day voting period.

Speaking to FMT, Fann said Bersih was glad the EC had decided to go ahead with the election and that the government was not using a proclamation of emergency to stop it.

“We believe that the EC could manage an election in a smaller state like Melaka where over 90% of adults are fully vaccinated,” he said.

Fann added that postal voting should also be considered for those in Singapore, Brunei, south Thailand and Kalimantan in order to reduce the need for voters in these regions to travel.

He noted that during the campaign period, clearer SOPs should be introduced, adding that there had to be restrictions on large crowds at ceramahs.

“Also, provide alternative means for parties and candidates to campaign such as equitable air-time on national television stations and debates as well as EC-designated billboards in order to give smaller parties a chance to be visible,” he said.

Former deputy health minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said it was important to make sure that ceramahs were organised with proper social distancing.

He said “pondok panas” activities – where an individual party or candidate would set up tents for supporters to rally outside of the polling centre – should not be allowed as physical contact and cheering would be involved. — Free Malaysia Today