Further implementation of electoral reforms, Anti-Party Hopping law taking effect evidence that BN sticks with promises and demonstrates political courage to implement institutional reforms

With the Anti-Party Hopping law taking effect from 5 Oct 2022, the Election Commission has also announced that the polling time for voters will be extended by one hour, while conditions for overseas postal voters have been further relaxed. These prove that the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri not only keeps to its pledges, its political will reflects a genuine commitment to gradually carry out electoral reforms for the betterment and further democratisation of our country.

The 22 months which Pakatan Harapan held office left a sore point on how leadership should not be as voters enticed by their attractive offers were duped with dishonoured promises, beguilement and incompetency. A government’s words and deeds reflect the quality of those in power; If any political entity does not hold true to their vows, they are not qualified to be the government.

Pakatan Harapan's Manifesto was eloquent; However its moniker that “the Manifesto is not the Bible” remains an indelible mark of their governance. This moniker also proves that to mislead voters, Pakatan has no qualms about stretching the “truth” to a bottomless pit. Its failure to abolish the PTPTN loans, tolls or to recognise the UEC speak volumes about themselves.

Reforms take time and need to be carried out in stages. Hence, politicians and political wannabes must be responsible for their words. They should inform the reality of the situation so that the rakyat may comprehend. The most important thing is to show the determination for reforms, rather than trying to mislead people.

Come the 15^th general elections (GE15), the voting time for voters to cast their ballots has been extended by one hour. Simultaneously, the Election Commission has also added more polling stations and abolished the conditions imposed in GE14 for overseas postal voters to enable all Malaysian voters residing abroad to be eligible to apply to be postal voters.

The reforms reported on 4 Oct 2022 continue the slew of reforms implemented since UNDI18. These are major steps in the democratic process of our nation. Extending the time to ballot by one hour frees up more time for voters to fulfil their civic duties. On the Peninsula, voters may head to the polls from 8am to 6pm. In Sabah and Sarawak, voters may cast their ballot earlier in the morning, that is from 7:30 to 5:30 p.m.

The Election Commission has also abolished the conditions for postal voting for Malaysians’ residing abroad, ie (Category 1B) which was implemented in the last general election. Hence, all Malaysian citizens living abroad, so long as they are registered voters, are eligible to apply to become postal voters.

-MCA online-