PUTRAJAYA: All Malaysian citizens who have registered as a voter and are eligible to vote but living abroad can apply to vote by post in the 14th General Election beginning Tuesday.
Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Mohd Hashim Abdullah said registered Malaysian voters, who are currently living overseas, however, must adhere to several conditions set by EC.
Among the conditions include the person must be a registered voter under the category of normal voter, not Overseas Absent Voter; have returned to Malaysia not less than 30 days within five years before the parliament or state assembly is dissolved; and those residing overseas except South Thailand (Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala, Songkhla dan Satun), Singapore, Brunei and Kalimantan, Indonesia.
Malaysians staying in South Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and Kalimantan, Indonesia are not eligible to vote by post and are required to return to Malaysia on the polling day to cast their vote.
"Therefore, Malaysians who have registered as voters and are eligible to vote on the polling day (besides the Overseas Absent Voters) and meet the stipulated conditions, can apply to vote via post using 1B Form.
"The 1B Form-Postal Vote Application Form (Overseas Postal Voters) have been uploaded on EC website at www.spr.gov.my, together with the guidelines for applicants to fill up the form," Hashim said in a statement today.
After completing the form, he said, applicants can send the form back via email to upup@spr.gov.my; or fax 03-8881 0424/ 0399/ 0394/ 0386/ 0369; or mail to Election Commission, Menara SPR, No.2 Jalan P2T, Presint 2, Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan 62100 Putrajaya (u.p. Unit Pengurusan Undi Pos Luar Negara).
The application for postal voting will be closed on the day the parliament is dissolved.
"EC will not process any applications received after 12 midnight on the day the parliament is dissolved.
"All applications will be processed by EC, and applicants will be notified of their status," he said.
Malaysians who have registered as Overseas Absent Voter are considered postal voters and thus, not required to apply for this.
The EC also advised Malaysians who have registered as Overseas Absent Voters to update their current address through 'Sistem Aduan' and 'Pertanyaan SPR' at its website.
The updated address must also include applicants' passport attachment for verification and to allow EC to send postal vote papers for the 14th GE.
The postal vote papers will no longer managed by the Foreign Ministry but Pos Malaysia Berhad.
For inquiries, call 03-88810081 or email to upup@spr.gov.my.