THE Johor government should declare polling day on March 12 as a special public holiday, Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching said. 

Although voting would take place on a Saturday, the DAP lawmaker said the state government should go a step further by the day a public holiday to ensure high voter turnout. 

“It must heed the Election Commission’s target of voter turnout at 70% and provide a response to the low registration numbers for postal voting that is only 7,824 postal voters of Malaysians overseas.

“The state government should be answerable for the failure of registering postal voters, and also to capitalise on all efforts to ensure that polling day is attended by all voters,” the former deputy education minister said. 

Teo said there was precedent for making election day a public holiday. 

“The 15th Malacca elections and the 14th general election were both declared a special public holiday,” she said.

She said this was in accordance with the Holidays Act 1951. 

As a result, she said the Malacca and general elections saw a voter turnout of  65.85% and 82.32%, respectively.

“Once it is viewed as a public holiday, it would boost public morale and spirit for everyday Malaysians to travel home and exercise their civic duty,” she added. 

The DAP lawmaker urged the state government to act quickly so out-of-state voters could plan their travel time. – March 5, 2022.