KUCHING: Polling day for the 15th general election (GE15) should fall on a Saturday or public holiday to enable voters to go out and vote.
Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak (ASPIRASI) president Lina Soo said this would also allow outstation voters to travel home and go to their respective polling stations.
“If the polling day were to fall on a weekday, many people would not be able to turn up.
“A low turnout is indicative of low level of democracy as many voters are not able to exercise their rights to vote,” she told New Sarawak Tribune.
Soo highlighted that voting is a human right and the people should exercise their rights to vote for the government who in their opinion can deliver the governance, security, jobs, flourishing of businesses and all the economic stability which the society is entitled to.
“The power is in the hands of the people – not to vote is not to care for the future generations who will ultimately inherit whatever is passed down including the government.
“It is about voting for and deciding the future, thus every voter must use this right with wisdom and integrity,” she said.
Meanwhile, Parti Ikatan Demokratik Malaysia (MUDA) Sarawak chairman Jeffery Ngui opined that whether the polling day falls on a weekday or weekend does not play as the key factor.
He said it actually depended on how inspired the voters are and the sentiments during campaigning period.
“In 2018, the polling day was on May 9 which was a Wednesday and the voters’ turnout was 83.32 percent.
“Malaysians are hunger for new breath, new inspiration, and new hope to move forward as a nation as well as a proud Malaysia.
“All opposition parties need to work together towards the common goal and do this for the people,” he said.
Ngui pointed out that every move that Malaysians take will be a decision where deciding not to vote is a decision as well.
He urged all Malaysians to not give up hope on their beloved land by casting their votes and let the majority of Malaysians decide.
“We are the guardian of our beloved Malaysia, not the political elites. We should be the one to decide our own faith and journey of life, not on the corrupted politicians’ hands.
“It is time to reclaim our rights and teach politicians who devastated our hope a lesson,” he added.
