KUALA LUMPUR, 23 FEBRUARY, 2012: The proposal to allow postal voting for media workers by the Election Commission (EC) for the coming general election has been generally welcomed by the media fraternity.

   
Sportwriters Association of Malaysia president Ahmad Khawari Isa said it was a good proposal because the duties of a reporter was synonymous with a hectic work schedule which compelled them to work long hours.
    
"At times, our duties force us to go abroad on a date which might overlap with the date of the general election. With postal voting, we are given the chance to vote," he said when contacted by Bernama here, today.
    
The EC, yesterday, agreed to consider media workers for postal voting in the coming general election.
    
EC chairman, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusof said the proposal would be tabled before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reforms chaired by Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili on March 6.
    
National Press Club president Mokhtar Hussain said the EC needed to ensure that postal voting for media workers was carried out without incurring doubts.
    
"All parties should ensure the success of any effort to ensure the smooth-running of the general election," he said.
    
National Union of Journalists president Chin Sung Chew lauded the proposal.
    
"NUJ actually has been discussing this before. We welcome it because as we know the majority of reporters have to work during the election, so this is another alternative way (for media personnel to vote).
    
However, ex-Bernama Editor-in-chief Datuk Seri Azman Ujang said postal voting was not the best way as its transparency was questionable.
    
Azman, who is also a columnist of The Sun, said the perception towards postal voting in Malaysia mostly invited controversies from certain parties.
    

- Bernama