On April 10, the Malaysian Election Commission announced the dates for Nomination Day (April 28) and Polling Day (May 9) for the general election.

But voters immediately realised something. May 9 falls on a Wednesday, which is a weekday.

Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid declared a special school holiday for Polling Day, as many schools will be used for polling centres.

The date for early voting, May 5, does fall on a Saturday.

However, there are no plans right now to declare a public holiday on May 9 for everyone to go vote.

Need to take leave

Bear in mind that Malaysians might need to journey back to their hometown to vote, depending on their address in the voter rolls.

Unlike Singapore, where you can get to pretty much anywhere in a couple of hours, this might mean a long journey for Malaysian voters.

The possibility that voter turnout might be decreased due to difficulties with taking leave from work has not been lost on some Malaysians.

Translation:

"O people of Malaysia, I appeal to all of you.

Please, please take leave on May 9 to vote.

It was announced today that Polling Day is on a working day (Wednesday). Mid-week.

This is the BN's tactic to make sure the external constituents do not go back & vote. Every vote counts!"

BN refers to the ruling party, Barisan Nasional.

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Done before?

Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad who has become the opposition Pakatan Harapan coalition's candidate for PM this time round, has criticised the choice of date.

He said in a press conference that it was unfair for overseas voters, including half a million voters who work in Singapore.

Eric See-To, deputy director of BN's strategic communications said on Facebook that Mahathir had no right to complain, as previous elections under his watch in 1982, 1995 and 1999 were all held on weekdays.

However, Mahathir pointed out that during those elections, the Polling Days were "already holidays".

Corporate response

Some companies were quick to announce that they would be granting leave for their employees to go and vote.

And AirAsia, the Malaysian airline, announced on April 10 that it would waive the charges for changing flights, if it happens to fall on Polling Day.

The offer only applies to Malaysian citizens, however.

Perhaps one consequence that the Election Commission did not consider was that Bruno Mars' Malaysian concert is also scheduled to take place on May 9.

Fans who planned to see the Uptown Funk star in Kuala Lumpur might have to cancel and go back home to vote instead.

Top image by MOHD RASFAN/AFP/Getty Images