KUALA BERANG – The majority of students at higher education institutions will be able to exercise their voting rights in the six state elections on August 12, as most universities will have completed their examinations by then.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said this is because most of the students will already be back in their respective hometowns after completing their exams.
Khaled, who is also Umno vice-president, said only two universities were reported to be facing constraints during that period, but it would not affect the students as no classes or tests would be conducted on polling day, which is a Saturday.
“Now students are undergoing exams. By polling day, most universities would have finished their exams, and the students would be on holiday... back in their respective hometowns and villages,” he said when met by reporters after launching Barisan Nasional Hulu Terengganu’s election machinery here last night.
Previously, the media reported that Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) and Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) were among the universities that were affected by the election date being set on August 12 by the Election Commission for the six state elections.
The presidents of the student representatives councils of both universities were reported as saying that UUM will begin examinations from the end of this month until the middle of August, while UMP will hold new enrollment for the university’s diploma-level studies during the elections.
The six states involved in the August 12 elections are Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah, Selangor, Penang, and Negri Sembilan.
Terengganu will also be having a by-election for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat on the same date. – Bernama, July 20, 2023
