Section 25 of the Malaysia’s Election Offences Act 1954
makes it compulsory for employers to give employees reasonable time off to vote in the Malaysia’s general election.
Employers to allow employees reasonable period for voting
25. (1) Every employer shall, on polling day, allow to every elector
in his employ a reasonable period for voting, and no employer
shall make any deduction from the pay or other remuneration of
any such elector or impose upon or exact from him any penalty
by reason of his absence during such period.
(2) This section shall extend to employees of the successor
company as defined in section 2 of the Railways (Successor
Company) Act 1991 [Act 464] and the Sabah Railway except
such as are actually engaged in the running of trains and to
whom such time cannot be allowed without interfering with the
manning of the trains; and the General Manager, shall, in each
case, be deemed to be the employer of such employees.
(3) Any employer who, directly or indirectly, refuses, or by
intimidation, undue influence, or in any other manner, interferes
with the granting to any elector in his employ, of a reasonable
period for voting, as in this section provided, shall on summary
conviction be liable to a fine of five thousand ringgit or to
imprisonment for one year.
Hence, for those of your who are registered voters, you are entitled to take time off to vote (ie: half day/a day/2 days off depending on where you work and the distance of travel to polling station) during the coming general election, which is scheduled on 9 May 2018 (Wednesday).
