KUALA LUMPUR – The Election Commission (EC) will tomorrow announce the polling day for the 15th general election (GE15), already widely believed to be by the middle of November before the monsoon season kicks in, but pundits are attempting to narrow down the date even more.
November 12, a Saturday, is reasonable, according to political analyst Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani from Universiti Utara Malaysia.
A little over three weeks from the EC’s announcement tomorrow, November 12 gives enough time for candidate nominations and at minimum a two-week campaign period, he told Getaran, The Vibes’ sister portal.
“The campaign cannot be shorter than at least two weeks. So after the EC makes its announcement on October 20, preparations for the nomination day will take at least a week and can be done at the latest on October 29.
“With two weeks given to the campaign, the polling date could be November 12.”
A minimum of two weeks should be given for campaigning, Azizuddin added, so that political parties and candidates can promote their respective agendas to voters, he also said.
According to him, only 40% of voters vote based on party, while 60% vote based on the candidate and issues.
He agreed that holding the polling day on a weekend would be better for voters, especially those who would need to travel back to their constituencies.
Another analyst who thinks November 12 is also a reasonable date for polling is Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Mohd Izani Mohd Zain.
He finds the date to be in line with what various parties have been saying about holding GE15 a month after the dissolution of Parliament, which was announced on October 10.
Izani, however, thinks a 10-day campaign period is sufficient.
“This is taking into account that political parties have already started campaigning. Even now on social media, they are trying to win over voters.”
By law, campaigning is only to begin on nomination day.
As such, a shorter campaign period of 10 days is “reasonable” and can also avoid the risk of monsoon floods, he added.
He, too, said a weekend polling date would be best, but noted that the EC has the right to set the date.
“If you really want to do it on a weekday, make it a public holiday because voting is important and will determine the country’s future.
“When GE14 (in 2018) was held on a Wednesday, some state governments made it a state public holiday,” he said.
Less likely: maybe also first week of November
Less likely but also possible is a November 5 polling date, with a seven-day campaign period, said Universiti Malaya’s Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub.
He said a week-long campaign period is enough because he, too, like Izani, feels parties have already begun campaigning, especially using social media.
In fact, he sees campaigning as having started unofficially since two years ago, when Malaysia’s political turmoil began when the elected Pakatan Harapan government was ousted.
This unofficial campaign has been held on social media, and even door-to-door in the guise of flood aid brought by political figures to flood victims’ doorsteps.
“Political parties came during the flood disaster wearing shirts with their party logos. That is indirectly campaigning.
“So a shorter campaign period before GE15 will just be time to consolidate (campaigning),” he said.
By law, the campaign period must not be less than 11 days, starting from nomination day, said political analyst and electoral reform expert Wong Chin Huat.
Furthermore, the issuance of the writ of election must take place four days before nominations, thus requiring 15 days from the issuance of the writ to polling day, at minimum.
Former EC deputy chairman Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Wan Omar has been reported saying in Berita Harian that the commission usually needs at least four weeks to organise a general election, due to the massive preparations involved. – The Vibes, October 19, 2022
