EC: Overseas Malaysians are considered for voting at embassies

The Election Commission has finally come around to the idea that Malaysians working overseas should be given back their vote-hopefully this can be implemented for the coming 13th General Elections speculated to be for November this year. The concern for East Malaysians are: would this include allowing Sarawakians and Sabahans to vote in West Malaysia as these East Malaysians are practically living `overseas’? In principle absentee voters should cover all voters who are abssent from their registered constituency-not just those who are out of the country. But if this is approved it is still a victory for the campaigner `Myoverseas Vote’ which started last year.

EC’s Proposal To Allow Malaysians Abroad To Vote Gets Positive Reaction

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New blog on the filming of Bengoh’s polling enigma

From the new blog’s introduction:

Why this blog?

Bengoh is a rural constituency within 1 hour drive from Kuching. It was considered a hot seat in the last state election in Sarawak because there is a dam waiting to displace some 1500 residents and probably affecting many times more outside the soon to be impounded area. However the election results showed that there was almost no effect from the hot issue -and the incumbent was returned with almost the same vote as before! What happened? Why the voters did not use their ballot in their hand to express their unhappiness? A group of us who happened to be election watchers during the election decided to make a film while inquiring on this `strange’ happening. The film making took us into very interesting and sometime weird journey that we like to share with you in this blog! Actually Bengoh is so beautiful that we are not sure if this is considered when the plan was hatched to submerged it to facilitate the building of a dam here…

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Fruitless land schemes in Ladang Dijih,Selangau-a con job?

Women from Ladang Dijih, Selangau spoke out about fruitless land scheme

Land schemes in Sarawak often produce no return to the landowners involved after decades-Ladang Dijih is one such `good’ example’ The 13min video is made by trainees  of TV Sarawak Bebas. See it here. More are coming!

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FELDA give `duit raya’-how about `duit Gawai’ from SALCRA?

The precursor of elections is always money throwing by the politicians who will use any excuse to do it. `It is for the good of the people’-the usual excuse. They never say the equally obvious: it is also for the good of the politicians! The lack of an effective election administrator allow such situation to develop from a hole in the dyke wall to a torrent that breach all barriers! Public money is splashed to service party/private interests! But it serves an unintended purpose: it is a sure sign of impending elections!

Najib announces ‘duit raya’ as battle for Felda votes intensify

August 02, 2011

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Confirmed: all f/t overseas Malaysian students can vote by postal vote-no need to change Constitution as said by PM!

Malaysians studying overseas can register as postal voters, says EC chairman

By RASHVINJEET S. BEDI
rashvin@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian students overseas need only to inform the Election Commission (EC) that they are out of the country so that they can vote.

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13th GE within months-are you ready?

Malaysiakini reported the Election Commission has appointed Returning Officers for coming elections, paving the way for the holding of the 13th GE within months-may be 3-5 months! Have the people, parties and observers got themselves ready for this historical election, speculated to be in November, that will decide the fate of the country for years to come?

Under the current system only the PM get to decide on the date of the elections-which is exploited to the hilt to advantage the ruling parties. Due to this the opposition and the public would be almost paranoid to guess when the election would be coming-or risk being caught unprepared. Actuallt there are always plenty of rooms to prepare on an elections to make it the best possible in terms of allowing voters to make informed choices eg to provide the most public education for voters. There are many misconception/propaganda about elections which should be clarified/challenged through such education eg

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