[ad_1]
PETALING JAYA: Bersih 2.0 has said it is dismayed by Chief Minister (Defense) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri’s statement that those who are confirmed positive for Covid-19 will not be able to vote in the Sabah state elections this Saturday, while others who have symptoms such as fever and cough and those in quarantine will be able to vote.
The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections said that a citizen’s right to vote is enshrined in the Federal Constitution and no one can immediately take it arbitrarily, not even a government minister or a special cabinet.
Article 119 (1) establishes that “every citizen has the right to vote in that electoral district in any election to the House of Representatives or the Legislative Assembly, unless he is disqualified under Clause (3) or any related law. with crimes committed in connection with the elections ”.
Clause (3) disqualifies those who are in a state of mental health and those who are serving a prison sentence of more than 12 months.
“The Electoral Commission (EC) has the duty to facilitate the casting of votes, but those that test positive for Covid-19 during this Election of the State of Sabah by making special arrangements for these patients to vote from the safety of the hospital rooms with the assistance of trained medical personnel, ”Bersih said in a statement today.
“This would be in accordance with the Guidelines for the prevention of Covid-19 during elections (1), issued by the EC where it establishes that patients positive to Covid19 cannot leave the hospital to cast their vote.
“We are fortunate to have a highly competent Director General of Health (Tan Sri Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah) and professional healthcare workers who are on the front line to keep us safe. We are confident that with your support, the hundreds of cases of Covid-19 patients in Sabah who are eligible to vote can do so safely. “
Bersih added that if the EC does not facilitate voting for Covid-19 positive patients in Sabah this Saturday, it would be subject to legal action for failing to fulfill its obligation to voters.
“Furthermore, any person or election official who intentionally prevents anyone who has the right to vote from voting would have committed a crime under Section 4 (d) or Section 9 of the Election Offenses Act of 1954,” he said.
“Bersih 2.0 is ready to provide legal assistance to any positive Covid-19 patient who cannot exercise their right to vote this Saturday. They should contact us by email at [email protected] shortly after September 26. “
We call on the EC to do its duty and take on the challenge of conducting elections safely even during a health crisis and demonstrate to the Malaysian public the importance of voting and the value of every vote.
[ad_2]
