Test mechanism to allow prisoners like Anwar to vote in Permatang Pauh, Zahid told

PERMATANG PAUH, April 26 — Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi should use the Permatang Pauh by-election as a pilot project to launch the mechanism he previously suggested to enable prisoners like Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to vote, PKR said today.

Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar added that it has been a year since the Home Minister suggested that the Election Commission (EC) and the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM ) discuss the mechanism to allow for prisoners to vote in elections and now would a good time to test it out.

“In July 2013, the Home Ministry reported reported that they will create a mechanism that can be used to enable prisoners to vote in elections,” Nurul Izzah said during the daily Pakatan Rakyat (PR) press conference at the PR Permatang Pauh Media Centre today.

“I warmly welcome the Home Minister’s recommendation and suggest that the P044 by-election in Permatang Pauh become the pilot project and allow Anwar Ibrahim that was arrested as a political prisoner, to be allowed out to vote this May 7,” she added.

Nurul Izzah, who also the PKR elections director, pointed out the Prisons Act 1965 allows for prisoners to be released in order to attend select functions like funerals, at the discretion of the Prison Commissioner and the Home Ministry.

Additionally, she also said that Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) also champions the rights for prisoners to be able to cast their votes during elections.

“In addition, this is in line with the statement and guarantee by Suhakam that based on human rights principles as enshrined in Article 21 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights that states the right of anyone to select representation and take part in the ruling of a country,” she said, adding that the Malaysian constitution allows all citizens the right to vote.

PKR de facto leader Anwar was imprisoned last February for five years over a charge of sodomising his former aide.

PKR announced yesterday that Anwar’s wife and PKR president Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will contest in the by-election against Barisan Nasional’s Suhaimi Sabudin and two other independent candidates.

Since his imprisonment, there has been massive outcry over the former opposition leader detention, with many labeling it a political move by the government in an attempt to cripple the opposition.