ALOR SETAR: The Kedah government cannot grant a special holiday on Dec 7, which is polling day for the Padang Serai parliamentary seat in the 15th General Election (GE15).

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor (pic) said this was because the election involved only one parliamentary constituency."

It cannot be considered because it is only one seat. There is a limited quota of holidays," he said briefly when contacted here Sunday (Nov 27).

Bersatu information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan had suggested earlier that the state government should declare a special holiday since polling will be on a Wednesday and a working day, to encourage constituents to go out and vote.

Voting for the parliamentary seat was postponed to Dec 7, with early voting on Dec 3, following the death of Pakatan Harapan candidate M. Karupaiya on Nov 16, just days before GE15.

The election will see a six-cornered fight with candidates from Pakatan Harapan, Bersatu, Barisan Nasional, Pejuang, Parti Warisan and an Independent.

However, Warisan has since announced that it will not participate in the election, though the party's logo would still be listed on the ballot paper as it was already registered as a contesting party. – Bernama