JOHOR BARU: The Home Ministry will be meeting with Malaysians working in Singapore before deciding if special arrangements are needed for them to return to vote in the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasition Ismail.
The Home Minister said he would also be taking into consideration feedback given by the by-elections machinery.
"I will be in Singapore on Wednesday (Sept 6) to meet Malaysians working there and listen to their views.
"We will assess based on that and then make a decision. Any developments will be announced later," he told reporters when attending a ceramah at a coffee shop in Taman Anggerik here on Tuesday (Sept 5).
It was reported that about 30% of the 166,653 registered voters in the Pulai parliamentary seat are Malaysians working in Singapore.
Earlier on Tuesday (Sept 5), Johor works, transportation and infrastructure committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said there would not be any special lanes at either the Causeway or Second Link on polling day.
"This is because we do not want those who are not voters to take advantage of (any) special lane... at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) and Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar (KSAB) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ).
"However, we will make sure that all counters at both BSI and KSAB are operational before and during polling day," he said when contacted by The Star.
"(The time advisory) is to avoid (voters) being stuck for hours at the Causeway and Second Link as Saturday is usually a busy time with Singaporeans crossing over into Malaysia on the weekend," he added.
The Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state seats fell vacant following the death of their elected representative Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, the domestic trade and cost of living minister, on July 23.
Campaigning for the by-elections ends at 11.59pm on Friday (Sept 8). Polling day is on Saturday (Sept 9).
