Activists have stepped up pressure on the Malaysian government for reform
KUALA LUMPUR - A court yesterday rejected a bid by several Malaysians to secure voting rights for some one million citizens living abroad in a general election widely expected this year.
Malaysia's High Court ruled that the Election Commission made a "perfectly valid" decision in refusing to register six Malaysians working in the United Kingdom as voters.
Malaysian laws prohibit citizens living abroad from casting ballots, except government workers, military personnel and full-time students.
The six Malaysians took the commission to court last year, alleging the restrictions banning citizens living abroad from voting amounted to discrimination.
The six, who formed a group called "My Overseas Vote", said they wanted to end discrimination against the estimated one million citizens who live and work abroad, of whom 60 per cent are in Asia.
But in its decision yesterday, the court described their attempt as "ludicrous" and warned it bordered on abuse of court process. The six were not immediately available for comment.
Demands for more electoral transparency have spiked over the past year, prompting tens of thousands of Malaysians to stage one of the country's largest street rallies in nearly four years in Kuala Lumpur in July.
Many activists accuse Prime Minister Najib Razak's ruling coalition of manipulating election rules and other laws to remain in power.
The Barisan Nasional has governed since 1957, but complaints about corruption and racial discrimination caused it to win 2008 elections with less than a two-thirds parliamentary majority for only the second time in history.
Mr Najib subsequently announced the overhaul of decades-old security laws and set up a parliamentary panel on reforms to regain public support.
The Election Commission also recently said it would consider extending voting rights to all citizens living abroad, but offered no timeline.
National elections are not due until 2013 but are widely expected to be held this year.
AP
'Yes' to pro-Anwar rally
by Bloomberg
Malaysian police have given supporters of Anwar Ibrahim permission to rally near Kuala Lumpur's High Court on Monday as it delivers a verdict in the opposition leader's sodomy trial.
The organisers must ensure, however, any gathering is held peacefully without disrupting public order and safety, KL police chief Mohmad Salleh said in a statement released via Facebook.
Anwar faces as many as 20 years in prison if found guilty of sodomising a former aide. A conviction may deprive the opposition coalition of a unifying figure ahead of a general election that must be called by June 2013.
Mr Azmin Ali, deputy president of Anwar's Parti Keadilan Rakyat, earlier called for 100,000 supporters to peacefully gather at the court, the New Straits Times reported.
BLOOMBERG
Via: http://www.todayonline.com/World/EDC120107-0000050/Msian-court-rejects-overseas-vote-bid
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