Early voting for army personnel common practice, says law minister

The issuance of postal ballot papers for the 15th general election (GE15), which began on Nov 7, to those registered as postal voters is common practice in all elections, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said today.

He said such a process also involved military personnel registered as postal voters.

As such, he said there was no issue regarding the matter, adding that the returning officer had also informed the candidates' agents about the dates of issuing the postal votes.

"It is up to the registered individuals who have received the postal ballot papers. What is important is that the postal ballot papers must reach the relevant office of the returning officer before 5pm on polling day, Nov 19," he said in a statement today.

Wan Junaidi said this after Pakatan Harapan chairman Anwar Ibrahim's recent claim that military personnel, especially in the Bera parliamentary constituency, had already cast their votes for GE15.

Yesterday, Defence Forces chief Affendi Buang said that voting for Malaysian Armed Forces personnel who are registered postal voters began on Nov 7 and would continue until Nov 19 before 5pm.