SOON MALAYSIANS CAN VOTE ‘FROM ANYWHERE’ – THEY WON’T NEED TO REGISTER: PUTRAJAYA MULLS ADOPTING AUSTRALIAN POLLING SYSTEM

THE government is studying the feasibility of adopting the Australian polling system, which allows for automatic voting eligibility for its citizens.

Electoral Reform Committee (ERC) chief executive Amerul Muner Mohamad said the Australian system was open, democratic and allowed its citizens to vote from anywhere.

He said under the Australian model, it is compulsory for citizens aged 18 and above to vote, whether or not they were registered, as long as they met voting regulations.

“This has made it very easy for Australians, especially with voting centres at their missions abroad.

“Malaysia is also planning to lower the voting age to 18, but we would require them to register before they can cast their ballots,” he said.

Amerul said his department had two years to study if it could adopt the Australian voting system, and at the same time, also learn from the United States and United Kingdom’s experience.

“To do that, we need to rectify our system and amend our laws first.

“There is no need to rush as we must know the proper framework,” he said after attending a briefing on the Australian Federal Election’s overseas voting process at the Australian High Commission in Jalan Yap Kwan Seng.

The briefing, led by Australian High Commissioner Andrew Goledzinowski, was held for Malaysian government officials, public servants and the media.

Present were Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Hannah Yeoh, Deputy Defence Minister Liew Chin Tong, Dewan Rakyat secretary Datuk Roosme Hamzah and representatives from the Election Commission and United Nations Development Programme. Nearly 1,000 Australians, either living in Malaysia or visiting the country, cast their votes at the High Commission for the election.

Around 80,000 Australians cast their ballots at 90-odd overseas voting centres over two weeks.

Goledzinowski, who cast his ballot on polling day, said voting was a serious event that demonstrated the shared democracy and values of Australia.

“It is the right to vote and our election, regardless of whom you support, is always conducted in a spirit of warmth and friendliness at voting centres.

“Today’s event is an expression of that.” He announced that Australia would contribute an additional A$400,000 (RM1.2 million) to the United Nations Development Programme Electoral Reform Assistance Project in Malaysia, bringing its contribution to A$1 million.

NST