Judge in Anwar's case says prisoners have right to vote

Like

Love

Haha

Wow

Sad

Angry

Malaysians held in prison have the right to vote but they must write to the Prisons Department director-general for permission if they want to exercise the right.

However, the High Court in Kuala Lumpur today dismissed Anwar Ibrahim's originating summons for not being able to vote in the last Permatang Pauh by-election because he named the Election Commission (EC) as one of the respondents.

Anwar's lawyer N Surendran said despite the court dismissing the application, the decision is still important as it means thousands of prisoners can exercise their right to vote.

Justice Nor Bee Ariffin, who made the decision in chambers, ordered the former opposition leader to pay costs of RM5,000.

Anwar named the EC, its former chairperson Abdul Aziz Yusof and the government as the respondents.

He had sought from the court a declaration under Article 119 of the Federal Constitution that he be allowed to vote.

Senior federal counsel Amarjit Singh told reporters that the EC did not deny Anwar his right to vote as the EC has no such powers, but Anwar must to write to the director-general of Prisons Department so that he can be allowed out of the prison to cast his vote.

He added that the provision states Anwar must cast his vote at the voting district he is registered in.

[More to follow]

-Mkini