Irene, Cornelius and Ruth.
TUARAN (Oct 7): A proposal by Tuaran Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau urging the Election Commission (EC) not to set nomination and polling days on major days of worship has received wide support from various quarters, who say the move aligns with the first principle of the Rukun Negara, ‘Belief in God’.
Madius had earlier called on the EC to be more sensitive to Malaysia’s religious diversity by ensuring that key election dates do not coincide with major worship days such as Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
A young entrepreneur, Cornelius Gukod, said the proposal reflects consideration for the religious obligations of Malaysians while they fulfil their civic duties.
“Days of worship should be respected as they hold deep meaning for the followers of every faith. Setting election dates on regular weekdays such as Monday to Thursday would be more appropriate and would not inconvenience voters,” he said.
Community leader of Kampung Tomis Baru, Kiulu, Irene Sompun, agreed that sensitivity towards the public’s worship schedule demonstrates the spirit of tolerance that forms the foundation of national unity.
“Maintaining a balance between the right to worship and the duty to vote is important. This proposal is not only reasonable but also strengthens understanding of the Rukun Negara’s principles,” she said.
For social activist Ruth Yapp, holding elections on weekdays is not a new idea, noting that several past elections had been conducted on working days and still saw high voter turnout.
“For instance, the 14th General Election was held on a Wednesday and went smoothly. So, there is no major obstacle to continuing this approach.
“In fact, I suggest Monday would be the best choice, as it would allow voters to travel back to their hometowns after the work week (on Friday).
“For those spending significant amounts on airfare, they could at least visit family over the weekend and worship together before fulfilling their civic duty on Monday,” said Ruth, who is also the founder of Zero Waste Sabah.
Earlier, in his statement, Madius explained that Friday is a day of worship for Muslims; Saturday for followers of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and True Jesus Church; while Sunday is observed by other Christian denominations, including Roman Catholics and Protestants.
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