(April 27): The Election Commission's (EC) decision not to let Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim vote in the Permatang Pauh by-election is proof of its bias, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar said today.

The Lembah Pantai MP, who is also the opposition leader's daughter, said the suggestion to allow inmates to cast their vote was made by Home Ministry itself, in 2013.

"It is obvious that EC is partisan! The suggestion came from KDN (Home Ministry) in July 2013.

"It is unfortunate that EC is unprofessional, not only does it reject a good suggestion but it justifies the EC in acting in the interest of Umno-BN," she said, in a WhatsApp message to The Malaysian Insider.

EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusof had told The Malaysian Insider last night that Anwar was not eligible to vote.

Aziz had said this was based on Article 119(3)(a) of the Federal Constitution, which states that "a person is disqualified for being a elector in any election to the House of Representatives or the Legislative Assembly if on the qualifying date he is detained as a person of unsound mind or is serving a sentence of imprisonment”.

Yesterday, the opposition pact Pakatan Rakyat proposed that Anwar be allowed to cast his ballot in the Permatang Pauh by-election this May 7, as part of the government's proposed plans since 2013 to allow convicts to exercise their right to vote in elections.

PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is now contesting in the by-election to defend the PKR stronghold against Barisan Nasional.

Nurul Izzah's father Anwar, who was the Permatang Pauh MP, is currently serving a five-year sentence in the Sungai Buloh prison for sodomy.

"It is clear that the mechanism for those in jail mentioned by Home Minister previously is yet to be approved as confirmed by EC.

"We hope the process can be hastened for democracy, this is important for EC credibility."

Yesterday, Nurul Izzah had said that prisoners should be allowed to cast their ballots as the Prison Act permitted them to leave prison premises on certain occasions, such as funerals, and allowing them to vote was also in-line with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia's recommendations as stated in Article 21 of the Constitution. – The Malaysian Insider