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Published: Sunday February 5, 2012 MYT 6:51:00 PM
Updated: Sunday February 5, 2012 MYT 7:09:08 PM

EC chairman clarifies overseas postal voters issue


SHAH ALAM: Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said Sunday he had never suggested that only tax-paying Malaysians overseas be allowed to become postal voters.

Instead, he said, what he suggested was that in determining the eligibility of Malaysians abroad to become postal voters, they might need to fulfil certain conditions as practised in other countries.

This is due to the fact that not all Malaysians abroad are eligible to become postal voters, he told reporters after receiving the Umar Abdul Aziz Award at the state-level Maulidur Rasul celebration here.

For instance, he said, there were countries which allowed their citizens to become postal voters provided they had been abroad no longer than five years and had made a trip back home during the period. In some countries, he said, the period allowable was four years.

"I also gave an example of the practice in the United States where postal voters should be taxpayers; but never did I mention that I will propose that only taxpayers be allowed to become postal voters abroad," he said.

He added that the pre-conditions for overseas postal voters would be announced later. - Bernama

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