PENANG is the latest Pakatan Harapan state government to declare polling day eve November 18 a public holiday, after Selangor and Negri Sembilan.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said this is to encourage voters to do their civic duty.

“This public holiday is to encourage Penang voters to prepare and perform their duty as a voter,” he said in a brief statement today.

Malaysia goes to the polls on November 19.

Yesterday the Selangor and Negri Sembilan governments also declared the eve of polling a public holiday.

“This holiday is to encourage the people of Negri Sembilan to prepare and fulfil their responsibilities as voters in the 15th general election on November 19,” said state secretary Razali Abdul Malik

Earlier yesterday, Selangor declared November 18 a state holiday to allow out-of-towners to return home to vote.

All three PH states will not be holding their state elections at the same time as the federal polls, saying they were prioritising preparations for the monsoon.

Yesterday, caretaker prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government will consider declaring  a public holiday on November 18. – November 10, 2022.