GE14 | Electoral watchdog Bersih has condemned the Election Commission’s (EC) announcement that polling day will be on May 9, a Wednesday.

“Bersih condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the announcement by the EC today on the nomination and polling dates for the 14th general election,” it said in a statement today.

Apart from polling day being set to take place on a working day, Bersih also noted that campaigning period will only be for 11 days.

Bersih pointed out how it has always demanded a campaign period of at least 21 days to give voters adequate time to assess the candidates and their manifestos.

“With a budget of over RM400 million, the EC has more than enough funds to make this a reality.

“The EC has therefore acted in bad faith and against the interests of democracy. The rakyat deserve a full explanation from the EC on why it has made such regressive decisions.”

Apart from polling day, the EC today announced that nomination day will fall on April 28 while advanced polling day will be on May 5.

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Bersih, meanwhile, urged employers to give their workers time off to vote with no deductions, citing Section 25(1) of the Election Offences Act 1954.

“It is regrettable that this cost is now forced upon employers.

“Those who have to 'balik kampung' to vote will be at an added disadvantage, especially those that have to return to Sabah or Sarawak from the peninsula and vice versa.

“Furthermore, party polling and counting agents and volunteer observers will have to find time off work to contribute to clean and fair elections.”

As such, a lower voter turnout is expected, Bersih pointed out.

“To mitigate this effect, we call upon the federal government to announce polling day as a public holiday and for the state governments to declare public holidays on the day before or after polling day.

“If this is not done, all employers should allow two days of unrecorded leave for all voters,” the organisation said.