GE14 | The mid-week election date for the 14th general election is expected to lose employers at least RM600 million, reported The Edge.

According to Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Shamsuddin Bardan, that is just the cost of wages to cover the public holiday on May 9 to allow voters to cast their ballot.

“The [additional] production loss is tremendous,” he was reported telling the financial daily.

However, he expects employers should be able to adapt their work schedules given the one month advanced notice.

The report also quoted Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) vice-president Jacob Lee as saying the election would disrupt factory operations.

However, he said, members of the federation would prioritise their employees’ right to exercise their civic duty to vote.

“FMM encourages its members to support the electoral process by sticking to the requirements of giving employees time off to cast their vote,” he was reported as saying

Meanwhile a director of a local consultancy told The Edge a single public holiday on polling day was insufficient, as some would have to travel back to their hometown to vote.

“Even with a day off for voting on Wednesday, I’ve had staff asking if they could take leave on Tuesday as they need to travel back to their hometown,” said the unnamed director.

Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association president Denis Low echoed the sentiment, saying the midweek polling date would be inconvenient to those who need to travel far to vote.

Malaysia Shopping Malls Association founding member and adviser Richard Chan on the other hand said the retail sector may be less affected, as business traditionally peaks over the weekends.