The newly introduced Section 203A of the Penal Code can undermine free and fair elections, an MP said, as it will stop whistleblowers from coming forward in cases where non-citizens are being registered as voters.
"If civil servants find out that what had happened in Sabah in terms of registration of (undocumented migrants) into the roll he or she cannot reveal this information," DAP's Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming told reporters at the Parliament lobby.
Ong, who has done extensive research on the electoral roll prior to joining politics, said the section, dubbed the 'secrecy clause' would also mean that he cannot disclose his own research to the public.
"If civil servants find out that what had happened in Sabah in terms of registration of (undocumented migrants) into the roll he or she cannot reveal this information," DAP's Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming told reporters at the Parliament lobby.Ong, who has done extensive research on the electoral roll prior to joining politics, said the section, dubbed the 'secrecy clause' would also mean that he cannot disclose his own research to the public.
Ong added that the royal commission of inquiry into undocumented migrants in Sabah had heard that there were 50,000 voters in the 2013 electoral roll who are "possibly dubious", as it is doubtful whether their identity card was obtained through legal means.
The section states that anyone who publicly discloses information which he or she obtained through their course of duty will run afoul of the law.
He was speaking at a joint press conference with electoral reforms pressure group Bersih, who also questioned the electoral boundary redelineation plans.
The section states that anyone who publicly discloses information which he or she obtained through their course of duty will run afoul of the law.
He was speaking at a joint press conference with electoral reforms pressure group Bersih, who also questioned the electoral boundary redelineation plans.
Wait for Sabah RCI first
Its co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan said that going ahead with the exercise shows disrespect for the RCI which has yet to conclude its report, which includes the issue of the electoral roll.
She said that Bersih will continue to resist the redelineation exercise despite the government's insistence that the Election Commission continue, as the exercise is based on the "unclean" 2013 roll.
"We are not ready to let go. Let's see what action we are compelled to take. The voices have to be getting louder and louder, and that is not all (we will do)," she said.
She said that the government and EC's decision to "ignore" civil society is akin to the way the government is pushing through amendments to the law including the Penal Code, Security Offences and Special Measures Act and Prisons Act, to support the Prevention of Crime Act amendment.
"The conduct of government after the 13th general election goes against all representations made by the prime minister that Malaysia is becoming the best democracy in the world," she said.
"Extreme legislation curtails fundamental freedom, and this is why we are very very concerned with the way the government is behaving after the election, without accountability to the public."
Its co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan said that going ahead with the exercise shows disrespect for the RCI which has yet to conclude its report, which includes the issue of the electoral roll.
She said that Bersih will continue to resist the redelineation exercise despite the government's insistence that the Election Commission continue, as the exercise is based on the "unclean" 2013 roll.
"We are not ready to let go. Let's see what action we are compelled to take. The voices have to be getting louder and louder, and that is not all (we will do)," she said.
She said that the government and EC's decision to "ignore" civil society is akin to the way the government is pushing through amendments to the law including the Penal Code, Security Offences and Special Measures Act and Prisons Act, to support the Prevention of Crime Act amendment.
"The conduct of government after the 13th general election goes against all representations made by the prime minister that Malaysia is becoming the best democracy in the world," she said.
"Extreme legislation curtails fundamental freedom, and this is why we are very very concerned with the way the government is behaving after the election, without accountability to the public."
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