PETALING JAYA| Employers have been urged to pay their staff early to enable workers to travel home to cast their votes on Nov 19.
Former Ipoh Barat MP M Kula Segaran said some voters would have to travel long distances to their respective constituencies, but not all would have enough money to make the trip if they did not receive their salaries early.
“I understand some companies may not be able to do so, but I urge you to try for the sake of the country over the next five years,” he said in a statement.
The former human resources minister said giving employees their salaries before polling day would enable them to exercise their rights as citizens of the country.
Kula said employers could even take a step further by allowing employees who need to travel out of Klang Valley to leave work early on Nov 18 to avoid rush hour traffic.
Another option, he said, was to allow staff to work from home on Nov 18 so they can immediately make the trip home after work.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that civil servants may be given special leave and early salary payments to enable them to return to their constituencies on polling day.
“We have been studying (such) facilities for voters since the dissolution of Parliament and we have already discussed the matter. God willing, there will be an announcement (soon),” Ismail told Utusan Malaysia.
