KUALA LUMPUR – Sarawak PKR Youth has urged the federal and state governments to seek cheaper flights to allow voters to return to the state for the upcoming polls there.
In a joint statement, the state’s PKR Youth chief Saifunnizam Sam and deputy Chiew Choon Man said both the state and federal governments must hold talks with the airline companies immediately.
They said the government must seek to reduce the cost of fares in order to allow Sarawakians living elsewhere to return to their home state and exercise their right to vote.
They said random checks on airline websites for dates before and after polling day found two-way flight tickets from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching and Miri ranging in price from RM1,100 to RM3,300.
“The fares displayed for these trips are unreasonable and cost as much as a ticket to foreign countries,” the youth wing said.
“Action must be taken immediately to lower the price of air tickets to enable Sarawakians to return to their beloved state and exercise their rights for the future of Sarawak.”
The youth wing said an estimated 250,000 Sarawakians who are eligible voters are currently residing in the peninsula.
“The failure of the Sarawak and federal governments to ensure balanced development between Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia has forced many Sarawakians to leave their beloved villages in order to earn a living or continue their education in Peninsular Malaysia,” it said.
“The right to vote is a constitutional and fundamental right of every citizen of Sarawak. However, Sarawakians now seem to be punished and prevented from exercising their right to vote by the exorbitant prices of airline tickets.”
Earlier today, the Election Commission set December 18 as polling day for the Sarawak election.
The commission also set December 14 for early polling, and December 6 for nomination day.
Its chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh said 82 returning officers will be deployed, with the assistance of 249 administrative officers.
Ghani said there are 1,252,014 eligible voters for the state election, and the EC is expecting a 70% turnout.
“Polling time will be from 7.30am to 5pm. Special lanes will be set up for those aged 60 and above, and for the handicapped.”
The EC will announce the standard operating procedures for the state polls soon, he said. – The Vibes, November 24, 2021
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