GE14: PMO Just Declared 9 May A Public Holiday
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) made the announcement today, 11 April.
By Tang Ruxyn — 11 Apr 2018, 05:04 PM
Here's a good news for Malaysian voters!
9 May, which falls on a Wednesday, has been declared a nationwide public holiday.
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) made the public holiday declaration today, 11 April.
"This is to let Malaysians fulfil their duties as voters," the PMO said in a statement.
The statement came a day after the Election Commission's (EC) announcement yesterday, 10 April, that the polling day for the 14th General Election (GE14) will take place on 9 May.
However, the Sabah and Sarawak state governments would have to make a separate declaration
According to the PMO, the declaration that 9 May is a public holiday is made as per Section 8 of the Holidays Act 1951 for Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territory of Labuan.
"As for Sabah and Sarawak, the respective state governments have to declare the additional public holiday on the (polling) date in accordance to their Public Holiday Ordinance respectively," the PMO added, as reported by theSun.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid had declared earlier yesterday that all schools nationwide will be given a special holiday on 9 May in conjunction with GE14
The decision of making 9 May a public holiday came about after concerns over low voter turnout as the EC set a Wednesday, a working day for many voters, as the polling date
There were criticism over the EC's midweek polling date as it makes it harder for the millions of Malaysian citizens who have to travel back to their hometowns to vote.
Prior to this, a public petition was initiated to appeal to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, Sultan Muhammad V to declare 9 May as a public holiday. The petition gained more than 100,000 signatories overnight.