CSO Platform for Reform said that about 250,000 Sarawakians live and work in the peninsula, more if Sabah is included.

It said that apart from travel costs, Sarawakians going back to vote will have to apply for leave and risk getting infected with Covid-19 when travelling through crowded airports and in planes and hired private cars.

The proposal comes after the dissolution of the Sarawak legislative assembly on Nov 3 following the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decision to end the state of Emergency. The state election is expected to be held within 60 days of the dissolution of the assembly.

“By refusing to make any provision for this group of voters to vote from the state they are living in, the EC has failed to fulfil one of its primary obligations as an election management body, which is to ensure credible levels of voter participation in an election,” CSO Platform for Reform said.