KEDAH menteri besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has called the media to quit making a fuss for showing of his marked ballot paper during the six state elections.
The PN election director said that he has already spoken to his lawyer over the matter and he has confirmed that his action is not against the law.
“Just be quiet and put an end to the story as it is not even an offence.
“My action did not breach Article 39 of the Election Offences Act 1954 as the law is related only to election petition and not to displaying marked ballot papers.
“I have consulted lawyers and judges, so please go and read (about the issue),” he was reported as saying by Berita Harian today (Aug 15).
In Malaysia, voting is supposed to be done in secrecy and this could amount to an offence under the Election Offences Act 1954.
Previously, checks had revealed that Sanusi’s action had breached which states that no elector who has voted in any election shall, in any proceedings, questioning the election, be required to state for whom he has voted for.
The Act further states that the offence can be punished with imprisonment of up to a year or a fine of up to RM3,000, or both which states that no elector who has voted in any election shall, in any proceedings, questioning the election, be required to state for whom he has voted for.
The Act further states that the offence can be punished with imprisonment of up to a year or a fine of up to RM3,000, or both.
It was previously reported that police will summon Sanusi to have his statement recorded for displaying his ballot paper after casting his vote on polling day for the state election last Saturday.
Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said the investigation into the case will be conducted from various aspects, including whether an election offence was committed.
“We will leave the decision on whether to proceed with charges or not to the Attorney-General’s Chambers,” he told a press conference after witnessing a duty-handover ceremony of the Crime Investigation Department director post in Kuala Lumpur today.
According to Razarudin, the case will be investigated under Section 5(1) and Section 26(1)(g) of the Election Offences Act.
On Saturday (Aug 12), Sanusi was reported as saying that he had no intention to show his marked ballot paper to the media before placing it into the ballot box at the state polls.
Instead, he claimed that the ballot paper was accidentally exposed while he was entertaining requests from the media for him to pose for pictures. – Aug 15, 2023
