The Kuala Lumpur High Court has dismissed an application by six Malaysian citizens residing and working in the United Kingdom to be registered as absent voters.
Justice Rohana Yusuf, in dismissing the application by Dr Teo Hoon Seong, ruled that the Election Commission (EC) had acted rightly in not registering them as absent voters.
The other applicants are V Vinesh, Paramjeet Singh, Yolanda Sydney Augustin, Sim Tze Wei and Leong See See.
"The EC is empowered to make a decision on absent voters based on the Election (Registration of Electors) Regulation 2002,” said Rohana.
"Hence, the EC cannot be faulted for following the regulations which it had determined. Hence, the application is dismissed."
Absent voters are classified under the EC regulations as military personnel or civil servants working overseas and full-time students, along with the three category of spouses.
They however do not include Malaysian citizens who work overseas in the private sector, which is the case involving the six applicants.
Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) commmissioner Detta Samen, who was present as an observer, said in an immediate reaction that he was saddened by the decision as every citizen should be allowed to vote.
He acknowledged the technicalities raised by the judge and said Suhakam will look into the matter further.
Lawyer Edward Soh, who represented the six applicants, said he will seek further instructions from his clients, but he indicated that they will likely to appeal against today’s decision.
[More to come]
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