'Anwar remains a qualified voter, despite being imprisoned'

Lawyers representing former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim submitted to the High Court in Kuala Lumpur today that despite serving a prison term, Anwar does not lose his right to vote in the Permatang Pauh constituency.

His lawyer and MP for Padang Serai N Surendran said all prisoners who are Malaysians have the right to vote.

"The plaintiff (Anwar) is seeking a declaration that despite serving the prison sentence, he, being a Malaysian like others who are imprisoned, has not lost the right to vote.

"We filed the judicial review application following then Election Commission chairperson (Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof), in referring to the plaintiff, said that prisoners can't vote," Surendran said.

Surendran, who is representing Anwar along with Latheefa Koya, maintained that according to Article 119 (3) of the Federal Constitution, prisoners can cast their vote.

However, he and Latheefa said the former EC chairperson had continued to plead in his affidavit to oppose Anwar's application that Anwar had lost his right to vote.

Senior federal counsel Amarjeet Singh, who heads the Civil Division of the Attorney-General’s Chambers, submitted that their position is that Anwar has not lost his right as an 'elector' (or voter).

"It is that he has to go out to vote and in this case, he should have written to the Prisons Department to cast his vote. He (Anwar) did not," he said.

Amarjeet maintained that Anwar's name is still in the electoral roll.

Surendran (on the left in photo) in reply to this said they are only concerned about Anwar's right to vote, which the then EC chairperson said was not there following the statements made.

All the submissions were done in Justice Nor Bee Ariffin's chambers.

On May 6, Anwar filed an originating summons in which he named Abdul Aziz and the government as defendants.

Anwar is seeking a declaration that under Article 119 of the Federal Constitution, he is a qualified voter.

In his supporting affidavit, the de facto PKR leader said although he was convicted and sentenced to five years’ jail, he remained a qualified and registered voter for the Permatang Pauh constituency before his conviction.

[More to follow]

-Mkini