Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698836658921.pdf (Malaysia)
SARAWAK DAYAK IBAN ASSOCIATION (SADIA) MEMORANDUM Date: 8 th December 2011 From: The Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA) To: The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) On Electoral Reform Subject: Inputs Parliament recommended for inclusion 111 the PSC's Report to 1.

INTRODUCTION First and foremost, we would like to express our deep gratitude to the Committee for according us this opportunity to provide inputs from SADIA for inclusion by the Committee in its report to Parliament.

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OUR VIEWS 2.1 We have the honour to submit our views, as follows: While the recommendations so far submitted by the Committee to Parliament - the use of the indelible ink and the chance given to eligible Sabahans and Sarawakians working in the Peninsula (what about those Malaysian citizens outside the country?)
to cast their votes from there - are welcomed, we feel that three other components of reforms to the electoral system should have been included, namely automatic voter registration and compulsory voting and Local Government elections.

2.2 Automatic registration There is no reason why automatic registration cannot be introduced into the Malaysian electoral system.

Any Malaysian citizen upon reaching the voting age (now 21 years) shall be deemed to be a registered voter for the purpose of the election law.
It is more democratic and in line with the universal suffrage.

It will save a lot of tax payers' money and time incurred by the Election Commission in registering voters on a voluntary basis.

Under this system, according to estimate by Commission itself, there are about 4 million Malaysians who are potential voters but are not on the registers.

Of these, there are some 40,000 Sarawakians.

And the numbers are growing bigger by the day as more and more Malaysians attain the age of 21 years annually.
The present practice of allowing political parties to register voters is also open to abuse.

Political organizations with a lot of resources will register more voters to add to their supporters and may not register those who openly support or are potential voters of the the interests of the voters who live in Opposition.

Such registration works against scattered longhouses the poor means of communication and large expenditure involved.
in the interior of Sarawak because of 2.3 Compulsory voting This will increase the percentage of turn-outs at polling stations and that of votes cast the legislators of their during each election.

People will feel obliged to vote and elect choice.

2.4 Local Government elections This was introduced during the time of Colonial Government but was abolished in the 1980s in Sarawak.

They must be revisited if we are to become a fully democratic country.
At this stage, we propose: marry the three, and the democratic foundations of Malaysia will be greatly strengthened for the common good.

2.5 Gerrymandering of constituencies When the next delimitation exercise is held, Sarawak should be allocated more state and parliamentary seats as more population of the state increases.

The case in point is the Parliamentary Constituency of Sibu where the Ibans interests are not sufficiently catered for.
Please refer to appendix 01 for details; there are several other constituencies having roll similar problems.

To reduce manipulations, showing the proposed demarcations of constituencies should be on display including in the longhouses for the public to suggest amendments/additions thereto for at least six months.

the map together with the electoral 2.6 Electoral Rolls - Back to old format The names of all voters from each longhouse or village were in one roll.
The roll was easy to update - the names of deceased voters could be deleted from time to time, or those of new voters could be added without going through the rigmarole as the ,,, filh 1" tL; present system demands.
Now the application forms must be handed back to the Election Commission to be further checked and verified as to authenticity, but that kind registration is of process has another defect: the rejection of names submitted for arbitrary in the sense that simple spelling mistakes in names of persons or places have been made grounds for rejection of right to vote from applicants who may perfectly be eligible Malaysians, but are excluded by mere technicality.
The answer is the automatic voter registration, above referred to.

2.7 Campaign period: 21 days - acceptable.

2.8 The 36- hour with draw period During this time a candidate whose nomination papers have been accepted by the Returning Officers is given a choice: to proceed with his or her to withdraw is open to abuse: such electoral participation in that election.

This right system encourages corruption and graft.

It must be abolished.


We support revisiting the previous system where once the nominations had been accepted; all names of candidates remain on the ballot papers.

Withdrawals were allowed by public announcement in the media, though technically voters could still cast their votes for the person (s) who had withdrawn candidacy.
to continue or not 2.9 Caretaker government During the care taker period (between the dissolution of the legislature and formation of next government), no announcement of new project approvals by Government officials, including care taker ministers other than normal publicity about ongoing development projects.

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10 Audit of electoral rolls We support and endorse suggestions by the PSC's to audit the existing electoral rolls immediately because the next General Election must be held before the present tenure of government expires sometime in 2013.

We also support and endorse the PSC's recommendation that a Royal Commission of Enquiry be formed to look into the countless allegations of illegal immigrants afforded voting rights in Sabah, possibly occurring in Sarawak too.
2.11 Open air rallies in addition-, to ceramahs These should be allowed in the spirit of the right of assembly and freedom of expression as provided for in the relevant provisions of the Federal Constitution.

2.12 Money politics The law governing the maximum expenditure of a candidate in an election should be audited by professional auditors; enforcement of the law in cases of its violation be strictly enforced.
Maybe an example or to court would discourage manipulation of election expenses incurred by candidates.

two of such cases brought 2.

13 Access to media by Opposition parties In the past, top leaders of parties contesting elections in Sarawak were given address supporters through the medium of the Radio.

Why can't it be done again?

3 CONCLUSION is our hope and prayer the above views of It consideration by the Parliamentary Select Committee, introduce automatic voter elections.
registration, that the Association be given due in particular the proposals to compulsory voting and local government is considered opinIOn that in order for Malaysia to be classified as a full fledged It democratic country.
the electoral system must be overhauled with the inclusion of the above proposals and the endorsement of proposals relating to the formation of the Royal Commission of Enquiry to find out the truth or otherwise of allegations of illegal immigrants having rights to vote in Malaysian elections when the millions of eligible Malaysian citizens here and abroad are being deprived of the human rights to vote for the representative to parliament of their choice and preference.
Memorandum signed by the Chairman of Sarawak Dayak Iban Association on behalf of the members and supporters of SADIA.

GERRYMANDERING APPENDIX 01 The Parlimentary constituency of P 212 Sibu consists of constituencies of N. 47 Bawang Assan, N. 48 Pelawan and N. 49 Nangka.

three (3) State 1.

In the state constituency of Bawang Assan there are thirteen (13) Polling Districts including one called Penasu (Polling District) 2.
Within the Penasu Polling District, there are 32 Localites including (004) Rh Banta Sg Aup and (015) Rh Jonathan Juna Sg Aup.

3.

The so called (004) Rh Banta in the electoral roll is actually referred to as Rh.

Palugan in the Sarawak Electoral Map (Pelan Bahagian-Bahagian Pilihan Raya Parlimen dan Negeri Sarawak).

For clearer version please refer to Peta B of the said map.

4.

Likewise, the so called (015) Rh Jonathan Juna Sg Aup in the electoral roll is actually referred to as Rh.
Nyala in the Sarawak Electoral Map (Pelan Bahagian-Bahagian Pilihan Raya Parlimen dan Negeri Sarawak).

For clearer version please refer to Peta B of the said map.

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The Polling centre where voters from Rh Banta and Rh Jonathan Juna cast their votes is SRK Sg Aup.

6.

Physically, (004) Rh Banta Sg Aup, (015) Rh Jonathan Juna Sg Aup as well as the Polling Centre SRK Sg Aup is situated well within the State constituency of NA9 Nangka and NOT Bawang Assan State Constituency.

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As if the above is not insulting enough, the boundary of Nangka State constituency in its effort to connect to a settlement situated east of N. 48 Pelawan has to connect itself through the locality of Rh Jonathan Juna, Rh Banta as well as a polling centre for the N. 47 Bawang Assan State Seat (Penasu Polling District), SRK Sg Aup 8.

Gerrymandering in this case was so obvious in favour of one racial group.
So a new state constituency should be created to give the Ibans here a fair representation by revisiting the 1969 boundaries.

Attached: 1.

11.

Senarai Lokaliti (tempat kediaman) of Penasu Polling District PETA B (Pelan Bahagian-Bahagian Pilihan Raya Parlimen dan Negeri Sarawak) r~ N. Name of Seat Polling Districts (Attachment 1) .
47 BAWANG ASSAN Rassau PENASU Bawang Assan Kunyit Ma'aw Selalo Dassan Ensurai Lan Engkilo Lower Upper Tanah Island Island Mas 001 RH DIED 002 RH JANGGU RTU PANJANG BTG IGAN 003 RH DANIEL PENASU 004 RH BANTA SG AUP 005 RH JELANI ENGKALAT BTG IGAN 006 RH GURI RTU PANJANG BTG IGAN 007 HUA SENG SAWMILL PENASU 008 RH RANDY 009 RH JETAN PENASU 010 RH HENRY EROKE 011 RH LUMJU TLK PENASU BTG IGAN 012 RH NYANAU RTU PANJANG 013 RH MATHEW RTU PANJANG BTG IGAN 014 RH STANLEY ENGKALAT 015 RH JONA THAN JUNA SGAUP 016 RH NYUA TG KIBONG 017 TG PENASU BTG IGAN 018 PENASU 019 RUMAH JALAK PENASU 020 RANTAU PANJANG PENASU 021 RH JELUING BATU BORAK 022 TELOK BANGO BTG IGAN 023 RH MARGARETBAYOH PENASU BTG IGAN 024 RH MANGAl 025 YU LING SAWMILL 026 RH LADAI 027 RH ANCHUM RTU PANJANG 028 RH.
MARIKAN 029 RH ANCHUM 030 RH AKONG TG PENASU 031 RH GAMANG PENASU 032 RH BANGIT PENASU 1'_ ,'l • SENARAI LOKALITI (TEMPAT KEDIAMAN) DAERAH MENGUNDI , 212/47/02 PENASU (UNIT PENDAFTARAN) SAHAGIAN PILIHAN RAYA PARLIMEN P. 212 SIBU SAHAGIAN PILIHAN RAYA NEGER!
N. 47 BAWANG ASSAN JUMLAH PEMILIH 1906 KOD LOKALITI NAMA LOKALITI BILANGAN PEMILIH MUKA SURAT PEMILIH BrASA RH DIED RH JANGGU RTU PANJANG BTG IGAN RH DANIEL PENASU RH BANTA SG AUP RH JELANI ENGKALAT BTG IGAN RH GURl RTU PANJANG BTG lGAN HUA SENG SAWMILL PENASU RH RANDY RH JETAN PENASU RH HENRY EROKE RH LUMJU TLK PENASU BTG IGAN RH NYANAU RTU PANJANG RH MATHEW RTU PANJANG BTG lGAN RH STANLEY ENGKALAT RH JONATHAN JUNA SG AUP RH NYUA TG KIBONG TG PENASU BTG lGAN PENASU RUMAH JALAK PENASU RANTAU PANJANG PENASU RH JELUING BATD BORAK TELOK BANGO BTG lGAN RH MARGARETBAYOH PENASU BTG IGAN RH MANGA!
YU LING SAWMILL RH LADAI RH ANCHUM RTU PANJANG RH.

MARlKAN RH ANCHUM RH AKONG TG PENASU RH GAMANG PENASU RH BANGIT PENASU 001 002 003 004 005 006 007 008 009 010 all 012 013 014 015 016 017 018 019 020 021 022 023 024 025 026 027 028 029 030 031 032 L _ 55