KUALA LUMPUR (April 10): Bersih 2.0  has condemned the Election Commission’s decision to hold the 14th General Election (GE14) on a week day, saying it will affect voter turnout.

“Those who have to 'balik kampung' to vote will be at an added disadvantage, especially those who have to return to Sabah or Sarawak from the peninsula and vice versa,” said the electoral reform group.

“Furthermore, party polling and counting agents and volunteer observers will have to find time off work to contribute to a clean and fair election.

“We can now expect to see even lower voter turnout and further hardship for all voters,” Bersih said in a statement shortly after the EC announced that polling will take place on Wednesday, May 5.

“To mitigate this effect, we call upon the federal government to announce polling day as a public holiday and for the state governments to declare public holidays on the day before or after polling day,” it added.

Bersih pointed out that employers are required to give their workers time off to vote with no deductions under Section 25(1) of  the Election Offences Act.

“It is regrettable that this cost is now forced upon employers,”   the group added.

Noting that schools and other public places will be used as polling centres, Bersih said: “It adds a heavy burden on schoolchildren, parents and teachers.”

The group also expressed regret that the campaign period has been reduced to 11 days, which is the minimum allowed. April 28 has been fixed as the nomination day for GE14.

Bersih said it has, for over 10 years, demanded a campaign period of at least 21 days to give voters adequate time to assess the candidates and their manifestos.

“With a budget of over RM400 million, the EC has more than enough funds to make this a reality,” said Bersih. “The EC has therefore acted in bad faith and against the interests of democracy. The rakyat deserve a full explanation from the EC on why it has made such regressive decisions.”