
One netizen, who posted a screenshot of a ticket price to fly from Johor to Kuching, has asked an airline company and the transport ministry for a reduction in ticket prices.
“@airasia, transport ministry, and all involved. Please reduce the flight ticket prices for GE15? RM364 for a one way ticket from Johor to Kuching?” he posted on Twitter.
Meanwhile, Twitter user @yusurisan asked Malaysian Airlines and its lower-cost subsidiary Firefly to offer cheap flight tickets.
Some netizens complained that the prices of flight tickets have soared following the EC’s announcement of the polling date.
Twitter user @haaneyss said an AirAsia ticket from Kuching to Bintulu was RM85 for one way yesterday, but shot up to RM235 today.
Another user asked why the price of a flight ticket from Johor to Kuching had jumped from about RM360 to RM730 for one way following an error which appeared mid-transaction.
One netizen complained that the polling day was set for mid-month, before employees’ salaries are paid.
“This is stupid, setting the polling day in the middle of the month. I won’t even have money to go back to my hometown.”
Meanwhile, several other netizens expressed concern over the polling day taking place during the monsoon season.
On Twitter, @HdinHafizuddin said Nov 19 is when the monsoon winds will start blowing in.
Another Twitter user said “polling day in the middle of November. Floods, oh, floods”.
According to the meteorological department, heavy rain is expected in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang from November to December. Johor, Sabah and Sarawak are expected to face the monsoon later, from December to January.
A few others welcomed the polling date set by the EC, as it falls on a Saturday. For the last general election, voting was held on May 9, a Wednesday.
“Thankfully Nov 19 falls on a Saturday. I vote in Johor Bahru but stay in Subang, it’s very far. Not keen to brave the traffic jam, looks like I’ll be flying back,” said one netizen.
Earlier, the Election Commission (EC) announced that polling day for GE15 will fall on Nov 19, with early voting set for Nov 15. Nominations will be on Nov 5.
EC chairman Abdul Ghani Salleh said state elections will be held simultaneously with the parliamentary elections in Pahang, Perak and Perlis, where nominations will also take place on Nov 5 and polling on Nov 19.
The other states, which are either controlled by Pakatan Harapan or PAS, have decided to hold their state elections only upon completion of their full term next year. Sabah, Sarawak, Melaka and Johor held their state elections recently.
Meanwhile, the Bugaya by-election in Semporna, Sabah, will also be held simultaneously with GE15 on Nov 19. The seat fell vacant after its assemblyman, Manis Muka Mohd Darah of Warisan, died of kidney disease on Nov 17, 2020.
A total of 21,173,638 voters will be eligible to cast their ballots in GE15.
Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram