I express my outrage at the Election Commission’s announcement yesterday that the GE14 polling day will be on May 9, a Wednesday.
BN appears to have conceded defeat by fixing the polling day in the middle of the week, as it probably assumed would result in lower voter turnout, which observers believe benefits the ruling coalition.
The opposition was forced to face several roadblocks even before the official campaigning period kicks off, starting with the EC’s redelineation exercise which was passed last month in Parliament.
After that, our ally in Pakatan Harapan, Bersatu was given a provisional suspension by the Registrar of Societies, and now this – polling day on Wednesday.
Is the EC an election commission or omission? They seem to be playing a dirty game to benefit BN.
It’s very clear, there is no two ways about it that the move will benefit caretaker Prime Minister Najib Razak as it is based on the assumption that there will be a lower voter turnout.
Many people have been contacting me to complain about not being able to return to vote, especially those living outstation and overseas, but I hope they will turn up to vote despite all these challenges.
In the wake of a barrage of criticisms from opposition leaders and netizens, BN Strategic Communications deputy director Eric See-To defended the EC decision.
“While I do not speak for the EC, I can understand that there is merit in selecting Wednesday as it may deem this to be fair to all states…” he said.
This is because Kedah, Terengganu, Kelantan and Johor have their weekends on Friday and Saturday.