Although Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor maintains his seat in Jeneri with a majority of 16,050 votes, the Election Commission is looking into the issue of him showing his marked ballot paper while posing for press photographers.
This is despite Sanusi saying that he did not mean to reveal how he had voted on his ballot paper and had, without thinking, accidentally revealed the contents.
“I entertained the reporters request but they ‘fixed’ me up… if I had wanted to display the ballot paper I would have carried it higher.”
According to the New Straits Times, a spokesman with the commission said the matter would be referred to its Legal Department for a review.
“It is a matter of legal interpretation since there are two differing opinions. We can’t comment yet until the Legal Department studies the matter,” he said.
Sanusi, who is defending his Jeneri seat for the second term, had apparently revealed his vote when he showed his marked ballot paper before folding it and placing it into the ballot box at his polling centre at SK Bandar Baharu Beris Jaya, Jeniang, at 11 am.
Under Section 5 of the Election Offences Act 1954, revealing one’s vote is an offence as it directly conflicts with the core principle of upholding voting secrecy.
If proven guilty, he faces a maximum sentence of a year in jail or a fine of up to RM3,000, meaning he would be disqualified, have to vacate the seat, and a by-election would then have to be held.
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This post first appeared on WORLD OF BUZZ.