PUTRAJAYA must find ways to lower flight ticket prices back to Sarawak to prevent a low voter turnout in the state elections next month, Dr Kelvin Yii said.

“A quick search shows that it already cost more than RM1,000 for a one-way ticket to Kuching,” said the Bandar Kuching MP in a statement today.

Yii said price control for flight tickets is necessary for three days before and after the election date to encourage Sarawakians who work in Peninsular Malaysia to return home to vote.

Earlier today, the Election Commission announced that the nomination for the Sarawak elections will be held on December 6, with polling on December 18.

Yii also said this is not the right time for Sarawak to hold elections.

“We are still in midst of the epidemic and we should be concentrating on the Covid-19 booster rollout.

“We had the advantage of observing and even doing a proper assessment of the potential Covid-19 damage from the Malacca polls before deciding to have ours, but instead, political considerations have trumped health concerns.

“The impact of Covid-19 in Malacca will only be seen in the next two weeks,” said the MP.

Yii said the state could have also waited for another three months so that 18-year-olds could vote in the elections. – November 24, 2021.