Express bus operators have joined the election frenzy in Malaysia, offering discounts to Malaysians working in Singapore who are travelling home to vote in the 13th general election.

The offer comes after the Singapore chapter of the 'Jom Balik Undi' (Let's return to vote) campaign approached online bus ticket booking service Easibook.com to help encourage Malaysians to return home to vote.

singapore buildings Easibook.com director William Lee is quoted by Singapore- based Channel News Asia as saying more than 100 people have registered for the discount since the offer was launched last week.

"This is a win-win situation. By participating in this programme, we hope we can help Malaysians to go back to vote at a cheaper price and we can ensure sufficient transportation for them.

"At the same time, we hope they can come back to buy our tickets again in future," Lee is quoted as saying.

Lee, whose service collaborates with 10 bus companies that operate up to 300 trips across the causeway a day, said he expects sales to hike by 30 to 40 percent during the election period in Malaysia.

A discount code will be sent to customers who have registered online once the polling date is announced and they will be entitled to a 10 percent discount.

Malaysia's Election Commission has this time expanded postal voting for all Malaysians overseas but Singapore is excluded from this, as well as Malaysians in Southern Thailand, Brunei and Kalimantan, Indonesia.

'More than 300,000 Malaysians in S'pore'

There are an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 Malaysians who are working and residing in Singapore.

According to Singapore's Kwang Hwa Daily , Grassland Express & Tours managing director Tan Boon Huat predicts ticket sales to increase by up to 50 percent on the Singapore-Malaysia buses during election time.

"Many people will want to vote and at the same time see their families, so I expected many people will be going home (to Malaysia).

"I have already made the necessary arrangements, including calling back drivers so we can add more trips," Tan said.

However, his company had no plan to provide discounts as ticket prices were already cheap.

Electoral reform group Bersih is aiming at a 85 percent turnout for the 13th general election that must be called by June, in an effort to minimise electoral fraud.

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