BERSIH calls upon the Election Commission (EC) and the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) to publish their Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on Voting amidst Floods (UndiBanjir).

The EC’s special meeting tomorrow (20 October) to decide on nomination and poling days must also cover the contingency plan to prevent unintended vote suppression caused by floods.

The EC must ensure its representatives must sit on the national, state and district-level Disaster Management Committees, that decisions on saving lives and preserving democracy are coordinated to minimize the trade-off between the two.

Bersih calls upon all institutions and quarters – political and unelected – to respect the role of EC as an independent institution and give it full room to make professional decisions in electoral process.

It is regrettable that the Parliament has been dissolved amidst the flood season against expert advices. The EC must not be pushed to complete election at the risk of harming lives or suppressing votes.

The flash floods that hit Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Tuaran (9 October) and Pulau Langkawi (16 October) debunk the political myth that UndiBanjir can definitely be avoided if election is held in early November.

The EC, NADMA and the three-tiered Disaster Management Committees must be prepared for situations like the flash flood in P104 Pulau Langkawi may happen on or just before the polling day.

The flash floods that hit Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Tuaran (9 October) and Pulau Langkawi (16 October) debunk the political myth that UndiBanjir can definitely be avoided if election is held in early November.

The EC, NADMA and the three-tiered Disaster Management Committees must be prepared for situations like the flash flood in P104 Pulau Langkawi may happen on or just before the polling day.

From the news reports, at least 30 settlements or places were flooded, across 14 of 27 polling districts, potentially affecting 38,118 voters, or 57 % of P104 Pulau Langkawi’s 66,808 electorate. (See Appendix)

Of the 14 schools or halls in the affected polling districts used as polling centers in GE14, 1 was flooded and 1 is listed on the high alert flood-prone areas.

Had the polling date been 17 October (the next day after the floods), what would the measures be taken – extension of polling hours? ferrying voters with boats in less affected areas to polling centers? Mobile ballot boxes in flood relief centers for evacuated flood victims?  Postponement of elections?

The SOP produced by the EC in consultation with NADMA must contain the following:

1. What remedy measures to take – extension of poling hours? transportation assistance like boats? Mobile voting at flood relief centers? Postponement of election at affected constituencies? Postponement of GE15?
2. What redlines crossed to escalate remedy – What percentage of voters affected (or low turnout) to justify extension of polling hours? What percentage of voters / how many polling districts affected to postpone election at the constituencies? What percentage of constituencies affected to postpone GE15 nationwide?
3. Who to be involved in such decision-making – EC/EC State Directors/Returning Officers? National/State/District Disaster Management Committees? Candidates? Contesting Parties?

 

Any decision to delay polling – even just at a few affected constituencies, let alone the entire GE15 – would be greatly controversial, as it would affect voters’ choices in postponed elections or cause the balance of power hanging in the air.

However, not doing so may cause either avoidable loss of lives (especially election workers and police personnel) or suppression of votes (where flood victims are denied their right to determine the country’s and their state’s future.

Should Ill-preparation of voting amidst floods cause avoidable life and property loss and denial of voting right, this would not just expose the senior officers of the EC and NADMA to suits of negligence. Worse, this may sink the country into political instability, worse than that the GE15 is supposedly to end, as government formation might be held back and political parties would be blaming each other when the drowning nation needs the leadership the most.

BERSIH hence calls for the EC and NADMA to produce a transparent and comprehensive SOP on how to handle election amidst floods, with an inclusive decision-making process to build cross-party consensus when difficult decisions need to be made to save lives and preserve democracy.

Released by:
The Steering Committee of BERSIH

 

APPENDIX – How the October Flood Impacts Electorate in P004 Langkawi

 

1. List of settlements or places affected by flood and their polling districts

 

No	Settlements/places	Polling District		Electorate of the entire Polling Districts	Voters in affected polling districts by State Constituency	Voters in affected polling districts by Parliamentary Constituency
1	Telaga Harbour Pantai Kok	004/01/01	Kuala Teriang	2,108	N01 Ayer Hangat 26,361 (81.01% of 32,540 voters)	P004 Langkawi 38,118 (57.06% of 66,808 voters)
2	Telaga Tujuh, Mukim Padang Mat Sirat	004/01/01	Kuala Teriang
3	Kampung Teluk Yu	004/01/02	Ewa	2,440
4	Jalan Kelubi	004/01/02	Ewa
5	Kampung Telaga Ayer Hangat	004/01/03	Padang Lalang	4,951
6	Kampung Sungai Itau	004/01/03	Padang Lalang
7	Kampung Padang Lalang	004/01/03	Padang Lalang
8	Kampung Pasir Hitam	004/01/03	Padang Lalang
9	Tanjung Rhu	004/01/03	Padang Lalang
10	Tabika Kemas Pasir Hitam	004/01/03	Padang Lalang
11	Kampung Kilim	004/01/04	Kilim	1,813
12	Kampung Belanga Pecah	004/01/05	Ladang Sungai Raya	3,278
13	SK Seri Lagenda	004/01/05	Ladang Sungai Raya
14	Jalan Gunung Raya	004/01/05	Ladang Sungai Raya
15	Empangan Padang Saga	004/01/07	Ulu Melaka	2,953
16	Kampung Padang Gaong / Padang Gong	004/01/07	Ulu Melaka
17	Simpang Tiga Nyior Cabang	004/01/08	Nyior Cabang	2,509
18	Pasar Padang Mat Sirat	004/01/10	Padang Mat Sirat	1,092
19	Kampung Kuala Melaka	004/01/10	Padang Mat Sirat
20	Kampung Atas	004/01/11	Kampung Atas	1,836
21	Bukit Kemboja	004/01/12	Bukit Kemboja	3,381
22	Jalan Kedawang	004/02/03	Kedawang	2,252	N02 Kuah 11,757 (34.31% of 34,268 voters)
23	Bohor Masjid	004/02/03	Kedawang
24	Buluh Penyumpit	004/02/08	Kelibang	3,513
25	SK Pulau Tuba/Pulau Tuba	004/02/12	Kampung Tuba	1,511
26	Jalan Penarak	004/02/13	Kuah	4,481
27	Batu Tampoi	NA
28	Sungai Melaka	NA
29	Fresh Mart Padang Putih	NA
30	Kampung Sungai Melaka	NA
31	Limbung Putra	NA

 

Map of Flooded Areas and Landslide in P004 Langkawi

 For more details, please visit:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1OkQy-1OMWZH–o4Rp9mLLjYp6YTjaiY&ll=6.320671491153717%2C99.83752122790169&z=11

 

Sources of Media Report

1. Free Malaysia Today (2022, Oct 16). 7 areas in Langkawi hit by floods. https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2022/10/16/7-areas-in-langkawi-hit-by-floods/
2. Harian Metro (2022, Oct 16). 6 kampung di Langkawi dilanda banjir [METROTV].  https://www.hmetro.com.my/mutakhir/2022/10/893131/6-kampung-di-langkawi-dilanda-banjir-metrotv
3. New Straits Times (2022, Oct 16). Kedah Civil Defence Force ready to deploy reinforcements to Langkawi. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2022/10/841128/kedah-civil-defence-force-ready-deploy-reinforcements-langkawi
4. Malaysiakini (2022, Oct 16). 37 flood victims in Langkawi relocated to PPS. https://www.sinardaily.my/article/182114/malaysia/national/37-flood-victims-in-langkawi-relocated-to-pps
5. Sinar Harian (2022, Oct 16). [VIDEO] 14 kawasan di Langkawi dinaiki air. https://m.sinarharian.com.my/mobile-article?articleid=284926
6. Sinar Harian (2022, Oct 17). Jumlah mangsa banjir meningkat kepada 67 orang. https://www.sinarharian.com.my/article/226370/edisi/utara/jumlah-mangsa-banjir-meningkat-kepada-67-orang?
7. Harian Metro (2022, Oct 17). Mangsa banjir di Kedah meningkat kepada 67 orang. https://www.hmetro.com.my/mutakhir/2022/10/893399/mangsa-banjir-di-kedah-meningkat-kepada-67-orang
8. Harian Metro (2022, Oct 18). Mangsa banjir di Kedah kekal 67 orang. https://www.hmetro.com.my/mutakhir/2022/10/893684/mangsa-banjir-di-kedah-kekal-67-orang
9. Harian Metro (2022, Oct 19). Banjir di Langkawi: 61 penduduk di PPS. https://www.hmetro.com.my/mutakhir/2022/10/893987/banjir-di-langkawi-61-penduduk-di-pps