Higher Education Ministry considers election holiday for students

JITRA - The Higher Education Ministry will consider giving a holiday to students of higher education institutions (IPT), allowing them to return home and vote in the upcoming state elections.

Its deputy minister Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal said it was to ensure these students could exercise their duties as voters on Aug 12.

However, he said the ministry will have to hold a discussion with the Cabinet first before any decisions are finalised.

"We will see whether granting a holiday is necessary; if the voting day falls at an appropriate time to have holidays, we will consider it. If not, we will consider other means to ease students' return to cast their votes.

"Currently, we have yet to have any discussions; they may be carried out soon when the time comes," he said.

He said this during a press conference after launching the 2023 International Innovation and Invention Competition Through Exhibition (I-Compex) closing ceremony at Politeknik Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah here.

The media reported on Wednesday that the elections in six states would be implemented simultaneously on Aug 12.

Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh also announced the nomination day is set for July 29.

The state elections involved 36 Kedah state seats, Kelantan (45), Terengganu (32), Penang (40), Selangor (56) and Negeri Sembilan (36).