THE Kedah government cannot grant a special holiday on December 7, which is polling day for the Padang Serai parliamentary seat. 

Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said this is because the elections involve only one constituency in the state. 

“It cannot be considered because it is only one parliamentary seat. Holidays have a limited quota,” he said in a brief reply when contacted by Bernama today. 

He was asked to comment on Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan’s suggestion that the state government declare a special holiday on December 7, since it is a Wednesday and a working day, to encourage the constituents to go out and vote. 

The Election Commission previously fixed polling day for the Padang Serai seat for December 7 with early voting on December 3, following the death of Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate M. Karupaiya on November 16. 

The election will see a six-cornered fight among candidates from PH, Perikatan Nasional, Barisan Nasional, Pejuang, Warisan and an Independent. 

However, Warisan announced the party would not participate in the elections, though the party’s logo would still be listed on the ballot paper as it was already registered as a contesting party. – Bernama, November 27, 2022.