GE14 | Politicians from both sides of the political divide in Sarawak are not in favour of the May 9 date for polling in the upcoming 14th general election.

When contacted by Malaysiakini, politicians from SUPP and DAP expressed disappointment over the date announced by Election Commission chairperson Mohd Hashim Abdullah today.

The EC also announced that nomination day for candidates will be on April 28, with a campaigning period of just 11 days.

“I am very disappointed to hear the news. Polling day falls on a working day for GE14.

‘In fact, since the announcement of the date, I have received numerous phone calls and messages from voters in my area, Sibu, who are working in the peninsula.

“They were intending to come home to vote for the SUPP candidate but now they are thinking of aborting their plans,” noted SUPP Youth central committee chairperson Michael Tiang, who is also political secretary to Chief Minister Abang Johari Abang Openg.

He said with polling day falling on a working day (a Wednesday), voter turnout could be low and the move by the EC was not serving the “spirit of democracy.”

Low turnout

SUPP youth leader Milton Foo also told Malaysiakini that polling day on a working day could translate to a low voter turnout.

“Many may not come out to vote especially those working outstation or overseas. This may not be good for democracy,” he said.

However, quoting Section 25 of the Elections Act, Foo said every employer must allow registered voters a reasonable period of time to be absent from work for voting purposes.

“And this is without deduction of wages if the employee takes time off for voting,” he added.

Also unhappy with the May 9 polling day was DAP’s Dr Kelvin Yii (photo).

He said voting was a civic duty and it was the responsibility of the EC to help facilitate a smooth process and also to ensure a big turnout so every voter could fulfil his or her duties.

Yii, who is DAP's parliamentary candidate for Stampin, said: “Having polling day on a Wednesday which is a working day, only makes it difficult for people to go out and cast their votes.

“It will also be disruptive for us in terms of all our polling and counting agents (Paca). They and the volunteers are key people to make sure it is a clean and fair election.

“Now, they will have to take leave if they still want to help out. Whatever it is, we will keep our heads up and keep on going,” he added.

'Dirty tricks'

Chong, meanwhile, said the fixing of a Wednesday polling day on Wednesday was another attempt by BN to try and cheat in the elections.

“We all know that most of those who are not working in their hometowns or the place they vote are young voters and that a high percentage of young voters are supporters of Pakatan Harapan.

“They are the ones who are victimised by BN who fixed the polling day on a Wednesday.

“These young voters are deprived of their constitutional rights to vote,” said Chong.

Sarawak PKR chair and Ba'kelalan state assemblyperson Baru Bian said the date was a strong sign of BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak’s fear that the coalition would lose the elections this time.

“It is obvious that the EC is aiding in the efforts to cause a low voter turnout on polling day. It is common knowledge that a high turnout will be disadvantageous to BN,” he said.

Baru believes that a Wednesday polling day would make it difficult for workers to return home to vote, especially Sarawakians and Sabahans working in Peninsular Malaysia.

“I hope that all employers will take note of section 25 of the Elections Act which requires that employers allow their workers to take time off to go and cast their votes without penalty.

“We must not let underhanded tactics and dirty tricks win the day. They say that every vote counts may be trite but it holds true even more so now than it ever did before,” he added.