THE Congress of Unions of Employees in Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) has proposed that the government declare November 18 a special public holiday so that Malaysians are able to travel to the required locations to cast their votes in the coming general election (GE15) on November 19. 

Cuepacs president Adnan Mat said that although polling day would fall on a Saturday, an additional day off on the eve should be given as a majority of Malaysians do not vote where their workplaces are located. 

“Some of them have to travel more than four hours to fulfil their civic duty. 

“The same goes for residents of Labuan, Sabah, and Sarawak who live in the peninsula; the limited flights may make it difficult for them to return home on polling day, not to mention those who live deep in the interior areas,” he said in a statement today. 

Adnan said that although employees were eligible to take annual leave, Cuepacs was concerned about there being employers who did not allow their workers to go on leave earlier to return to vote. 

The Election Commission has set the polling day for November 19 and early voting for November 15. – Bernama, November 7, 2022.