GE14 | Malaysian employers have come out in support for their staff to vote after a weekday was announced as the polling day for the 14th general election - but the same cannot be said for those in Singapore.

While employers in Malaysia are compelled to give time to their workers to vote, the law does not extend to Singaporean firms with Malaysian employees.

However, businessperson Ngo Hea Ong, who runs a jewellery business in Singapore, hopes to help Malaysians fulfil their electoral duty, despite not being required to do so by law.

Shortly after the Election Commission announced that polling day would fall on May 9, Ngo granted two days of special leave to his Malaysian staff, on May 8 and 9.

"We have given holidays and full transportation allowance to our staff since the last general election.

"We believe this will allow them to return home without worry to fulfil their national duty," Ngo told Malaysiakini when contacted.

Ngo (photo), a Malaysian himself, will also return to cast his vote for the fourth time.

Existing electoral law does not allow Malaysian citizens residing in southern Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and Kalimantan in Indonesia to cast their ballot by postal vote, thus requiring them to return home.

Ngo, whose jewellery shop is located in Singapore's Chinatown, said he was prepared to bear the losses for the two days that his staff are off.

"Seven out of nine of my employees are Malaysians, and the two others are a Singaporean and an Indonesian.

"My employees are mostly from Beruas and Gopeng in Perak, while the others are from Kepong, Port Dickson and Tebrau," said the 40-year-old.

According to Ngo, the special leave and allowances will set him back about S$3,300, or RM10,000.

Citing unofficial statistics, DAP's incumbent Senai assemblyperson Wong Shu Qi said last month that some 300,000 Malaysians commute to Singapore on a daily basis, while another 400,000 reside in Singapore, mostly for work purposes.

Many of these are Johoreans.

With Johor expected to be a battleground state in the 14th general election, outstation voters are expected to play a key role.

After making its announcement, the Election Commission came under fire for the midweek polling day, which could potentially suppress voter turnout.

Polling day for the last three general elections have all taken place on a weekend. Even previous elections held on weekdays have been close to weekends.