In a statement today, the group’s secretary-general Nirmala Devi Windgaetter said this happened despite the overseas voting reform recommendations made to the Election Commission (EC) after the 14th general election, after overseas voters faced numerous hurdles in casting their votes.

“Sarawakians living in South Korea, Australia, Singapore and Germany received their ballot papers too late to be returned before polling day for the Sarawak state elections, even when expensive courier services were used.

“Some only received their ballot papers on polling day itself or after, making it impossible for them to cast their votes in time.

“Melaka voters living overseas also reported similar problems, compounded in some cases by difficulties in finding fellow Malaysians living nearby to be their witness for the voting process.”

Nirmala said the insufficient time given to return the ballots prevented many overseas Malaysians from voting during the general election.

“The EC has been aware of this problem since GE14. This needs to be resolved urgently for future elections, especially before GE15.

“Global Bersih urges the EC to work with the overseas Malaysian community to address this issue immediately, as well as other issues we have raised in our overseas voting reform advocacy,” she said.