Kota Kinabalu: Some 300,000 Sabahan votes that can make a difference in the election outcome for Sabah’s parliamentary seats on Nov. 19 hangs in the balance.The voters comprise Sabahans working, studying or residing in the Klang Valley as well as Johore, Selangor and Penang.
Where the Undi-18 voters are concerned, it is unlikely that they have the means to fork out precious money for a one-way ticket.
Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) Tanjung Aru Division Chief Hiew Choon Yu said the average fare from Kuala Lumpur to Sabah on the day before and after polling day is RM400 for a one-way trip.
“If the students are to return to their hometowns for voting, at least RM800 will be spent on a return ticket, excluding road transfers. With all goods costlier now, RM800 for a student can be one month’s food or rental,” he said.
He hoped the Federal Government would assist these automatic registered voter- students so that they can fulfil their obligation.
The more than 1.44 million first-time voters aged between 18 and 21 can influence the direction of the country’s future development.
Hiew said even though airlines have lowered the fares, it is still not affordable for all students.
He supported the proposal by Sabah Umno Asst Sec Gerald Rizal Johari and Sabah Barisan Nasional head Datuk Seri Panglima Bung Moktar to consider early voting or mail-in voting.
He noted overseas voters can vote by mail, and military police and media personnel can vote early.
“But an 18-year-old student who is also a citizen and has been given the obligation to vote is forced to give up the chance just because the students cannot afford the air ticket.”
Sabah West Coast Wise Consumers Association Chairman David Chan said:
“For those who can afford it, there may not be a problem. But for those who can’t, they must think long and hard about going home. It must be burdensome for those who only have education loan money or self-support money from their parents. For them to use it for the purpose of buying a flight ticket to return home to vote is unfair.”
Some non-governmental organisations also said although universities gave a five-day leave to go home to vote, a large number of students were unable to return home because they couldn’t
afford it.
NGO Pertubuhan Kinabalu Bersatu (PKB) Chairman Adzmi KK Juatan said the Government should consider giving a special 50 per cent air fare subsidy for Sabahans in the peninsula and Sarawak to return home to cast votes and peninsula students in these states intending to return home.
“During my meet with some Sabahans in Kuala Lumpur, many lamented they could not afford the air ticket prices.
“Many are worried they might have to sit out the election this time,” he said.
Adzmi said of the some 300,000 Sabahans in the peninsula, many are working in factories while others are doing business.
“Many are facing unstable monthly income and some are out of job because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and since the country is in the transition into the endemic phase, they are picking up and recovering from their losses.”
Furthermore, he said, many of the Sabahans in the peninsula are not pleased with the polling date that was set after the middle of the month which is during “bulan tua” where their salaries have not been paid yet.
It was reported that a Sarawak church has raised RM30,000 to sponsor flights for students from public and private universities and colleges to return to East Malaysia to vote.
The Methodist Church in Malaysia Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference spokesman Nicholas Tan said the church aimed to raise more funds to help as many students as possible to travel from the peninsula to Sarawak and Sabah. He said so far more than 1,000 students have applied through the “Jom Balik Mengundi 2.0” campaign.
“In the last general election (GE14), we were able to help 600 students, but this time the number of applications is overwhelming due to Undi18.
