KUCHING: The Siswa Balik Initiative has raised RM42,000 to help 237 Sarawakian students return home to vote for their very first time this Saturday.
The Siswa Balik Initiative along with Rise of Social Efforts (ROSE) and Civil Society Organisations (CSO) Platform for Reform launched the #JuhBalitNgundi campaign earlier this month.
“The funds were crowdfunded and the target was to raise RM50,000 to help around 300 students go back home and fulfil their civic duty,” it said in a statement.
“With the help of the people of Malaysia including many Sarawakians, we managed to raise a total of RM42,072.51.
“Crowdfunding is only a temporary solution to this problem. Hence, we once again call on the government, especially the Election Commission to step in and provide a permanent solution.
“We demand students be given the facility and the right to vote by post or alternatively, vote in advance from their respective institutions if they are studying away from their home state or their hometowns,”it added.