Kelantan has declared tomorrow a public holiday for all civil servants in the state in view of the Manek Urai by-election.

According to Bernama , Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said the move was in the interest of the people.

nik aziz Taking a line similar to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's 1Malaysia slogan, the PAS spiritual leader said: "In the spirit of democracy, we must give priority to the people, and importance to performance."

Asked whether the move would be a loss to employers in terms of paid salary and production at the manufacturing plants, he said employers must not just think of profit.

"This (declaring polling day public holiday) is not new as the Penang government had also done it for the Permatang Pauh by-election.

"I don't know why the Election Commission chose a working day for polling day, and not a weekend holiday or school holiday," he said and urged voters to come out and vote as "it is a responsibility".

Muhyiddin: Unusual move

NONE Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said it was "unusual" for the state to declare a holiday for the by-election.

"(It would be) convenient for outstation voters to vote. It (the decision) is a bit unusual although the state government has the right to do so," he said.

Tomorrow's contest is a straight fight between Barisan Nasional candidate Tuan Aziz Tuan Mat, 39 and PAS' Mohd Fauzi Abdullah, 50.

The seat fell vacant following the death of PAS assemblyperson Ismail Yaakob on May 22.