KOTA KINABALU: The government is urged to work with airline companies to offer East Malaysia voters discounted airfares to exercise their right by returning home to vote on the polling day.

Tan Sri Goh Tian Chuan, president of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Hua Zong) also suggested that the Election Commission (EC) extend postal vote facility to eligible overseas voters as well as East Malaysians so that they can vote without having to return home.

“These are the measures the authorities should consider to help voters carry out their responsibilities in a flexible, convenient and legal way to complete the democratic process,” said Goh at the swearing-in ceremony for new committee members of Goh Clan Association in Kota Kinabalu on Sunday.

East Malaysians working in Peninsular Malaysia would have to fly home to cast their votes on the polling day.

To them, the expensive airfare is a burden for them to fly home.

If the government is not keen to resolve the issue of expensive airfare, East Malaysian voters will likely give up their right, resulting in low voter turnout, Goh said.