The Election Commission has issued a stern warning to Bersih 2.0 co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan not to disrupt the smooth running of the forthcoming 13th general election.
Her statements on overseas Malaysians voters, EC deputy chairperson Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said, have resulted in confusion and affected public confidence in the country's democratic process.
Attacking Ambiga's statement on postal votes from Malaysians staying overseas, carried by the Berita Harian, Wan Ahmad said the EC was actually giving those without the time or the funds to return home the opportunity to vote via post.
"Ambiga has made a confusing speculation and statement that does not assist, but further destroys the (belief in the EC)... the voting process can be done via postal votes or for them to return directly to cast votes.
"Her actions mean she did not understand EC's mechanism and procedures that were discussed at length with Wisma Putra and all the embassies.
"Her statement is based on perception and assumptions. It is directed at poisoning the people with things that are not true," Wan Ahmad said.
'Are they truly Malaysians?'
He was responding to Ambiga's statement urging Malaysians residing overseas registered voters to return home to vote and not use postal votes.
Ambiga said the conditions to be a postal voter were confusing as one set by the EC was that overseas voters must have returned home in the last five years and stayed in Malaysia for not less than 30 days.
Meanwhile, Utusan Malaysia reported Penang-based lawyer Ranjit Singh Dhillon also attacking Ambiga and declaring that the conditions imposed by EC are feasible.
"If they cannot sacrifice 30 days in five years to be in the country, are they truly Malaysians?" Ranjit asked.
The Umno-owned daily quoted him as saying that the condition imposed by the EC was to ensure their loyalty and patriotism as voters.
Ranjit added that it was disappointing that Ambiga, being a former Bar Council chairperson, could issue such a statement.
-malaysiakini.com
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