High airfares may deter over 200,000 Sabahans from voting, says Sabah PKR chief 

THE higher airfares between Sabah from the peninsular and Sarawak could discourage over 200,000 Sabahans from voting in the state election this year, said Sabah PKR chief Datuk Mustapha Sakmud. 

He said they are particularly students and young voters working in these regions who may not be able to afford to fly back home for the state election. 

“Voting is a fundamental right, but many Sabahans are being denied this because they can’t afford to fly back home,” he said. 

“There are thousands of Sabah students studying in universities across Malaysia who simply cannot afford to return just to vote. They deserve the chance to decide Sabah’s future without being burdened by travel costs.”

Mustapha pointed out that airfares between Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia soared to RM1,700 in October 2024, making it too expensive for many. 

He noted that Sabah has 1.69 million registered voters as of December 2024, with more than half aged between 18 and 39, a demographic heavily impacted by travel costs.

He urged the Election Commission to implement postal voting for Sabahans living outside the state, highlighting the successful use of postal ballots for Malaysians in Singapore and southern Thailand during the 15th General Election.

“If it’s possible for Malaysians in Singapore and Thailand, why not for Sabahans living in Peninsular Malaysia?” he asked.

Mustapha also called on the Election Commission to explore other voting options, including online voting with stringent security measures and strategic polling centres outside Sabah, similar to Indonesia’s approach during its general elections.

“This is about ensuring that every Sabahan can exercise their right to vote, regardless of where they live,” he said.

“No one should be left out due to financial constraints.” - February 22, 2025