KUCHING: Rise of Sarawak Efforts (ROSE) is appealing to all employers in the private sector in particular those who have staff or workers who will need to ‘balik kampung’ in order to cast their vote to give them sufficient time off to go back to perform their civic duty as citizens in choosing the next or new government.
In a press statement issued today, ROSE would also like to echo Bersih 2.0’s appeal to the federal government to declare polling day for the 14th General Election (GE14) a public holiday and for state government to declare the day before or the day after as a public holiday.
“ROSE condemns the decision and announcement by the Election Commission (EC) that the polling day for the 14th General Election (GE14) would fall mid-week on a working day as it is effectively disenfranchising voters in particular those of Sabah and Sarawak.
“They (EC) have yet to give a cogent and credible reason for fixing the said date on a mid-week. Instead of encouraging voter turnout on this very important day, such a move flies in the face of what an election commission would be expected to uphold; access to the right to vote the government of the day.
“Many of whom either work in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore or in the bigger cities in towns but whose polling stations is in the ‘kampung’ (village),” it said.
However, ROSE said that it is heartening to note from netizens and on social media that ordinary citizens or voters are taking matters into their own hands to overcome this challenge seemingly put in their way by the Election Commission and are starting to organise themselves to go back to vote.
“One of which is to carpool to ‘balik kampung’ to vote. We believe we will see more creative and helpful ways in the coming days.”
ROSE would also like to thank all the airline companies who have since before the announcements of dates, carried out their corporate social responsibility (CSR) to waive re-routing and re booking fees.
“ROSE hence urge those voters working and studying outside of Sarawak to quickly book their air-tickets to come back home to vote. There are also initiatives started to give financial help to those coming back to Sabah and Sarawak to vote.”
In line with ROSE’s vision of encouraging citizens participation in elections and democracy, the non-governmental organisation (NGO) will be conducting a poling agent/counting agent (Paca) training and refresher this Sunday, April 15 at 1.30pm at Good News Fellowship Community Hall at Green Heights, here.
Those who are interested to register for the workshop are encouraged to email to [email protected] or SMS to 016-8604998.
“Those who wish to serve as Paca and make a difference in the marginal seats in Sarawak, do attend this training.”