Penang State Government Declares August 26 2008 A State Public Holiday To Ensure A Full Turnout Of Voters For The Critical Permatang Pauh By-Election.
The state government declares August 26 2008 will be a state public holiday to ensure a full turnout of the 58,459 voters for the critical Permatang Pauh by-election. The Penang state government has been mulling over the decision ever since the Elections Commission fixed a working day on Tuesday August 26 as polling day in defiance of public opinion that this will reduce the voter turnout.
Clearly reducing the voter turnout will affect the election results as it may be seen as favouring one party over the other. This sentiment is further reinforced by the announcement of Education Director-General Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom yesterday that all government schools in Permatang Pauh would be given a special holiday on 26 August, the polling day of the by-election. Moreover, this special holiday need not be replaced which means it is an additional free holiday.
Clearly this latest act by the Federal government shows that the Permatang Pauh by-election is no ordinary by-election but has crucial national significance with wide national implications. This is due to the participation of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his attempt to return to Parliament and make a bid for Federal power as the alternative Prime Minister.
The various distribution of money and financial assistance by the Federal government only in Permatang Pauh shows the real threat posed by Anwar in making a bid for Prime Minister and that this by election is essentially a contest between an ordinary candidate and a candidate who has a chance of being the Prime Minister.
By fixing polling day on a working day and giving such preferential treatment of a special school holiday, the Education Ministry is trying to gain an advantage for a certain party and their candidate. To ensure a level playing field and fairness to all candidates, the Penang state government has decided to declare August 26 2008 as a state public holiday.
All voters are urged to turn out to cast their votes in this public holiday. The state government requests all factories to assist their workers in Permatang Pauh to carry out their duties to determine not only their choice of wakil rakyat but also decide the destiny of the country.
Clearly reducing the voter turnout will affect the election results as it may be seen as favouring one party over the other. This sentiment is further reinforced by the announcement of Education Director-General Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom yesterday that all government schools in Permatang Pauh would be given a special holiday on 26 August, the polling day of the by-election. Moreover, this special holiday need not be replaced which means it is an additional free holiday.
Clearly this latest act by the Federal government shows that the Permatang Pauh by-election is no ordinary by-election but has crucial national significance with wide national implications. This is due to the participation of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his attempt to return to Parliament and make a bid for Federal power as the alternative Prime Minister.
The various distribution of money and financial assistance by the Federal government only in Permatang Pauh shows the real threat posed by Anwar in making a bid for Prime Minister and that this by election is essentially a contest between an ordinary candidate and a candidate who has a chance of being the Prime Minister.
By fixing polling day on a working day and giving such preferential treatment of a special school holiday, the Education Ministry is trying to gain an advantage for a certain party and their candidate. To ensure a level playing field and fairness to all candidates, the Penang state government has decided to declare August 26 2008 as a state public holiday.
All voters are urged to turn out to cast their votes in this public holiday. The state government requests all factories to assist their workers in Permatang Pauh to carry out their duties to determine not only their choice of wakil rakyat but also decide the destiny of the country.
posted by weiaik at
13:56
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