GE14 | Caretaker deputy home minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed says there is no need to declare May 9, the polling day for the 14th general election, a public holiday.
He stated that this was because existing laws already require employers to give time to their workers to vote.
"No need to declare May 9 a public holiday to allow people to vote.
"Under the Election Commission Act (Election Offences Act 1954) employers are compelled to let their employers to go and vote.
"Neither are they allowed to intimidate and prevent their employees from voting. Punishment for an offence is RM5,000," he said in a Twitter posting.
Pakatan Harapan leaders, including its chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had criticisedthe Election Commission for fixing the polling day on a Wednesday.
The midweek polling day would likely require outstation voters to take leave in order to vote, and could potentially suppress voter turnout.
However, Nur Jazlan said Mahathir himself adopted a similar strategy when he was prime minister.
"Mahathir cries foul over GE14 (on) May 9 weekday polling day but he held polling on weekdays in 1982, 1995 and 1999," he said.
Polling day took place on a Monday in the 1995 and 1999 general elections, while the 1982 general election saw the polling day fixed on a Thursday, which ran until Monday.
It was not unusual in the past for the polling day of a general election to last more than a day due to logistical challenges. - Mkini
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