TUARAN, Oct 6 — Tuaran Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau has urged the Election Commission (EC) not to set nomination and polling days of the 17th state election on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays which are days of worship for various religious groups.
Madius in a statement following the dissolution of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly on Monday opined that holding the election process on such days does not reflect adherence to the first principle of the Rukun Negara, Belief in God.
“Friday is a day of worship for Muslims; Saturday is observed by members of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and the True Jesus Church; while Sunday is a day of worship for other Christian denominations, including Roman Catholics and Protestants.
“I propose that the nomination and polling processes be held on weekdays, between Monday and Thursday, as a sign of respect for Malaysia’s religious diversity,” he said in his statement.
Madius said the Rukun Negara clearly calls for every believer to be given space and respect to perform their religious obligations without interference from other activities, including election-related matters.
“When we aim to uphold a principle, we must live and embody it. The Rukun Negara should not merely be a pledge recited verbally, but a set of values to be implemented and practised in our nation’s governance,” he added.
Madius, who is also the Honorary President of the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO), pointed out that elections have previously been held on regular weekdays.
“For instance, the 14th general election on May 9, 2018, was held on a Wednesday, while the Permatang Pauh by-election on May 7, 2015, fell on a Thursday and both proceeded smoothly.
“However, in recent years, several elections have been held on days of worship. For example, the 15th general election (GE15) was held on November 19, 2022, and the nomination day on November 5, 2022, both falling on Saturdays.
“Holding elections on such days poses challenges for religious adherents who are observing their day of worship,” he stressed.
He further cited Indonesia as an example, where the nation upholds its Pancasila philosophy as a reflection of spiritual values and social harmony.
“If we truly respect the Rukun Negara, then every decision should reflect the values we uphold. Honouring the days of worship for all religions is part of the belief in God,” Madius said. — The Borneo Post
