AUGUST 12 — Section 5 of the Election Offences Act 1954 (Act 5) makes provision for maintenance of secrecy at elections.

Section 5(1) requires every officer, clerk, interpreter, candidate, agent and any other person — authorised persons — authorised to attend any proceedings connected with the issue or receipt of postal ballot papers, or at a polling station, or at the counting of the votes, to make an oath of secrecy substantially in Form A in the First Schedule.

The oath reads as follows:

I, .......................................... Identity Card No ................................... of ...................................................... swear that I will not at this election for the .................................... constituency/electoral ward do anything forbidden by section 5 of the Election Offences Act 1954 [Act 5], which has been read to me.

Every authorised person who is in attendance at a polling station is required under Section 5(2) to maintain, and to aid in maintaining, the secrecy of the voting in such station.

Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of Section 5 is liable, on conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to a fine not exceeding RM3,000 or to both such imprisonment and fine.

It is therefore mind-boggling that caretaker Kedah menteri besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor should be pictured flashing his marked ballot paper to media personnel before placing it in the ballot box.

He is no ordinary voter. He is sworn to secrecy of his own vote.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.