Dilemma for overseas Filipino voters in Sabah
Published on: Saturday, April 20, 2019
By: Nikko Fabian
Kota Kinabalu: Many Filipino land-based Overseas Absentee Voters (OAV) in Sabah will not be able to cast their votes this month until May 13 due to financial and time constraints.The failure to provide official election precincts in Sabah by the Commission on Election (Comelec) with the cooperation of the Embassy made it difficult for voters to elect their chosen 12 senators and party-list congressional representatives in the scheduled May 13 Philippine midterm elections.ADVERTISEMENT
In order for Filipino voters in Sabah to cast their ballots, they (working OAV) must fly to Kuala Lumpur which many said was expensive and time consuming.
Early this year, they repeatedly appealed to the embassy to set up mobile clustered precincts in Kota Kinabalu for election purposes.
However, their outcry fell on deft ears resulting to many voters unable to exercise their right of suffrage.
“A man without a vote is a man without protection,” the voters cried.ADVERTISEMENT
It was noted, many Filipinos here also failed to vote during the previous presidential elections because the Embassy is located in Kuala Lumpur– close to 3-hours plane trip from where they were.
To participate in the election exercise, Filipino voters in Sabah need to prepare a budget of RM500 or more.
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Although the Embassy did not reveal the total figure of OAV registered in Sabah, it is estimated they could be several thousands.
Filipinos in Malaysia began the month-long OAV exercise Saturday (April 13) to choose the next 12 senators and party-list representatives in the congress.
The first to cast the vote at 8am last Saturday was Ambassador Charles Jose who arrived at the polling centre at 7.30am.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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After casting his ballot, Jose encouraged the 18,334 registered voters in the country to exercise their right to vote without any delay.
“We ask our nationals to not wait for the deadline and immediately proceed to the Embassy to cast their votes,” the Ambassador stressed.