By Daniel John Jambun
Spokesperson, The Borneo Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo)
KOTA KINABALU: The Borneo Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo) strongly condemns the Election Commission’s (EC) decision to exclude Sabahans residing and working in Peninsular Malaysia from postal voting in the upcoming 17th Sabah State Election (PRU17).
BoPiMaFo views this as not only discriminatory but also a blatant violation of Sabahans’ constitutional right to vote, enshrined under the Federal Constitution. The EC’s refusal to extend postal voting to the estimated 200,000 Sabahans living and working in West Malaysia effectively disenfranchises a significant portion of the electorate, many of whom face severe financial and logistical obstacles in returning home to Sabah to cast their ballots.
“This is an outright suppression of Sabahans’ democratic rights,” said Daniel John Jambu, spokesperson for BoPiMaFo. “The Election Commission’s decision is an insult to the principle of equal citizenship. Why should Sabahans working in West Malaysia be denied postal voting when Malaysians overseas are allowed to vote by post? This is a clear act of discrimination and a betrayal of Sabah’s democratic voice.”
BoPiMaFo condemns the EC’s stance as a continuation of systemic neglect towards Sabah and a deliberate act that undermines free and fair elections. The foundation urges the EC to immediately reverse this undemocratic policy and extend postal voting facilities to all eligible Sabah voters residing outside the state before PRU17 on 29 November 2025.
“Failure to rectify this injustice will be seen as a deliberate attempt to silence Sabahans and manipulate electoral outcomes through disenfranchisement,” Daniel added. “Every Sabahan, regardless of where they live, deserves an equal voice in shaping the future of their homeland.”
BoPiMaFo also calls upon all Sabah-based political leaders, civil society organisations, youth movements, and concerned citizens to unite in defending the democratic rights of all Sabah voters. Upholding the right to vote is not a privilege granted by the government — it is a constitutional duty that must be respected, protected, and guaranteed for every citizen.
