In a statement, Negeri Sembilan state secretary Razali Ab Malik said the state holiday was to encourage people to vote on polling day, Nov 19.

Earlier, Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari declared that Nov 18 will be a state holiday. He said there were many Malaysians working and residing in Selangor, but voted in their hometowns in other states.

Amirudin also urged Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to declare Nov 18 a public holiday nationwide for all Malaysians to make it easier for them to cast their ballots on Nov 19.

Yesterday, Ismail said the government will study the proposal to declare a special public holiday on Nov 18.