SARAWAKIANS residing in Peninsular Malaysia do not qualify for special postal voting rights in the event of an election, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Takiyuddin Hassan.

In a written reply to a question by Kelvin Yii (Bandar Kuching-PH), Takiyuddin cited Article 119 of the federal constitution, which states that the Election Commission (EC) determines the constituency of a voter based on the residential address as on the voters’ identity card recorded in the National Registration Department database.

“On Sarawakian voters living in the state who wish to be postal voters, please be informed that at present, there are no provisions or specific laws to allow such voters to use voting facilities as a postal voter.”

Yii had asked if any provisions will be made for voters in Sarawak, which is due to hold a state election next year.

Takiyuddin said postal voting facilities are only given to the following categories – EC staff; election workers; the police; media practitioners; staff from nine agencies (Fire and Rescue Department, Prison Department, Maritime Transport Department, Police Volunteer Reserve, Immigration Department, Health Department, Registration Department, Civil Defence Force and the Disaster Management Agency) who working during the election; as well as Malaysians residing overseas (except Brunei, Singapore, Kalimantan dan southern Thailand).

The minister said the EC currently has no plans to add categories for postal voting facilities.

The 15th general election must be held by September 16, 2023, while the Sarawak state election must be held by September 7, 2021. – August 5, 2020.