Ramkarpal Singh, the incumbent for Bukit Gelugor, said Zahid’s statement was “most disappointing”, adding that it showed the deputy prime minister did not encourage Malaysians abroad to return to vote.
“It is most disappointing for the country’s number two to be seen as not encouraging Malaysians abroad to come back to vote,” he said.
Ramkarpal said similar statements were also made by other Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders, giving the impression that Putrajaya was not interested in whether most Malaysians would be able to cast their votes at the 14th general election (GE14).
He said it would create a perception that the government was afraid of a high voter turnout on May 9.
“Instead of discouraging Malaysians in Singapore (or anywhere else for that matter) from voting, Zahid ought to be vigorously wooing them back to vote by perhaps appealing to the Singapore government to encourage employers there to allow their Malaysian employees leave,” he said.
Zahid reportedly said that the government neither encouraged nor discouraged Malaysians to return to vote as that was an individual right.
“But if the employer from the said country (Singapore) does not permit (their Malaysian workers to take leave), then I think the best thing to do is to not come back to vote,” he was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini at an event in Kluang.
The Election Commission’s decision to hold polling day on May 9, a Wednesday, has sparked outrage including on social media, with many describing it an attempt to ensure low voter turnout as well as stop those in the cities from going back to their hometowns to vote.