KOTA KINABALU, 19 March 2025 – The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) has urged Sabah Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor, to officially announce the dissolution date of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly (DUN) well in advance. This is to ensure that all involved parties, particularly Sabah voters working or studying outside the state, have sufficient time to prepare and plan their return to exercise their democratic right in choosing the leadership of the Sabah Government.
An early announcement of the DUN dissolution date would effectively provide ample time for the Election Commission (SPR), police, and relevant authorities to arrange logistics and security measures to ensure a smooth election process. Additionally, it would allow candidates and political parties contesting in the election to prepare their campaigns fairly and equitably.
In the previous 15th Sabah State General Election (PRN15), voter turnout was only around 66 percent. According to findings from the Darul Ehsan Institute (IDE), the 15th General Election (PRU15) also recorded low turnout among young voters under 30 years old, with only 56 percent of voters aged 18-24 and 54.4 percent of those aged 25-30 casting their ballots. BERSIH’s own monitoring report on PRU15 revealed that only 20 out of 925 Sabah students studying at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) were able to return to vote. Furthermore, according to a statement by the Chairperson of the Sabah People’s Justice Party (PKR) State Leadership Council and Deputy Minister of Higher Education, YB Mustapha Sakmud, approximately 200,000 Sabahans are working or studying in Peninsular Malaysia. This significant number cannot be overlooked, and the Sabah State Government must consider the needs of these out-of-state voters to fulfill their democratic responsibilities.
The absence of a clear dissolution date complicates travel planning for out-of-state voters, especially those who need to book flights early to avoid exorbitant prices, which can reach thousands of ringgit. Many face difficulties returning to vote due to high travel costs and constraints related to work or study leave. Therefore, proactive measures are essential to boost voter turnout and ensure that the political rights of Sabahans living outside the state are not neglected.
BERSIH emphasizes that the right to vote is a fundamental right of every citizen, and any barriers to voting access must be minimized. The coalition also calls on all stakeholders, including civil society and political parties, to collectively advocate for a more transparent and inclusive Sabah state election, ensuring better access for all voters without discrimination.
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