Well, according to the Star report, there will be no public holiday for voters to go out and vote. That is why the Election Commission need to ensure that polling days fall on weekends or holidays.
I am a bit dissapointed with Guan Eng and the Pakatan Rakyat government with this decision - as it would definitely cause problem for many workers, who may want to go out an vote (or maybe even volunteer to be polling agents...counting agents...help in the transportation and other work for their candidates...). They may also need time to get their elderly parents to the polls..
During the economic crisis, when jobs are 'shaky' , many workers just do not want to do anything that may jeopardize their continuous employment in their company. Employers may be looking to retrench 10% and many just will not go vote to show that they are dedicated employees and should not be even considered by their employers in that group that may be retrenched... That is why a public holiday would have been good at this time.
What can Guan Eng and the Penang Government do if the employers do not allow their worker/s to go out and vote? What will Guan Eng and the Penang government do if the employer sacks the worker because he absents himself/herself as he went to vote? How are you going to encourage employers? The handling of the Kg Buah Pala issue clearly shows that the Penang Government does not even have much influence with their own state workers' cooperative (the 'alleged' owners)..or the Developer. That's why the only way one could have facilitated the full exercise of people's democratic rights come election day was by the declaration of a State public holiday.
There may be (or may be not) provisions in the law for the State Government to just declare it a public holiday for the registered voters in Permatang Pasir...
Maybe, absence from work for the purposes of exercising one's right to cast a vote...or to register oneself as a voter should be clearly stated as a justified reason for being absent from work, and this is something that the employer shall not use against the employee. It should be considered as paid leave (Proposals for the future).
I am a bit dissapointed with Guan Eng and the Pakatan Rakyat government with this decision - as it would definitely cause problem for many workers, who may want to go out an vote (or maybe even volunteer to be polling agents...counting agents...help in the transportation and other work for their candidates...). They may also need time to get their elderly parents to the polls..
During the economic crisis, when jobs are 'shaky' , many workers just do not want to do anything that may jeopardize their continuous employment in their company. Employers may be looking to retrench 10% and many just will not go vote to show that they are dedicated employees and should not be even considered by their employers in that group that may be retrenched... That is why a public holiday would have been good at this time.
What can Guan Eng and the Penang Government do if the employers do not allow their worker/s to go out and vote? What will Guan Eng and the Penang government do if the employer sacks the worker because he absents himself/herself as he went to vote? How are you going to encourage employers? The handling of the Kg Buah Pala issue clearly shows that the Penang Government does not even have much influence with their own state workers' cooperative (the 'alleged' owners)..or the Developer. That's why the only way one could have facilitated the full exercise of people's democratic rights come election day was by the declaration of a State public holiday.
There may be (or may be not) provisions in the law for the State Government to just declare it a public holiday for the registered voters in Permatang Pasir...
Maybe, absence from work for the purposes of exercising one's right to cast a vote...or to register oneself as a voter should be clearly stated as a justified reason for being absent from work, and this is something that the employer shall not use against the employee. It should be considered as paid leave (Proposals for the future).
Penang has decided not to declare tomorrow as a public holiday despite the fact it is polling for the Permatang Pasir state by-election.Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng without specifying the reasons, said the state would encourage all employers to allow workers, who are registered in the Permatang Pasir constituency, to take the necessary time off to vote.
“Factory managements in the area, are also advised to change their production hours to allow their workers time to vote,” he said after accompanying Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to campaign in Kampung Paya. - Star, 24/8/2009, Tomorrow not a holiday, says Lim
Nothing is good for Charles. If you wish to take this up, you should direct your grouses with the SPR.
ReplyDeleteHey, you have nothing better to comment but just criticize without any remorse. This has been my view of you through the past reading of your posts....very shallow mentality.
ReplyDeleteDo you know that declaring a state holiday can cause so much of problems?...let alone to employers. The amount of cost to so many parties...employers and the state.
It is easy to criticize with arm chair critics around like you, Charles!! The is the problem with bloggers who have little responsibility towards civil society.....unfortunately. You have indeed contradicted yourself by your very own words....(quoting from your blog post words)..... " There may be (or may be not) provisions in the law for the State Government to just declare it a public holiday for the registered voters in Permatang Pasir".
Have you done your homework to check this out before you blared it out loud on the state govt? The same goes for your past post on Kg Buah Pala.
I feel ashamed that you have this simple logic. A failure of which would deter me to read your blog post any further.
I would agree with your reader, The Truth About Kampung Buah Pala, that nothing is good for Charles but I would like to add on to his comment. "Nothing is good and reasonable for Charles except critics."
Charles, you can't see this is a ploy by SPR to ensure low turn out of voters......basically to favour BN as the Permatang pasir constituency is an opposition stronghold. Dude!!
My comments are based on the facts before me, and that is why I welcome readers to correct me if I do get things wrong.
ReplyDeleteIf there is a differing opinion, then it would be appreciated that you would forward that opinion.
Hit out at the proposition or the comment, not the person making the comment.
If you do know me, you would know that I would constructively criticize all, friend or foe. I hope always that things can be improved.
Having campaigned actively in over 5 General Elections, and even by-elections, having be an an Agent for Candidate, Polling/Counting Agent, Campaign Manager....during elections (always for the Opposition though), I believe that it is definitely good for democracy that polling days are either on week-ends or public holidays. It is not just a question of going out there and voting. So many are needed as volunteers for the whole day as polling agents, and then counting agents, to assist in transportation of the sick and elderly ...etc
State Government has the capacity to declare 25th August a State Public Holiday.