CM declares May 7 as public holiday in Penang

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has declared May 7 as a public holiday in the state in conjunction with the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election.

He said the state government executive committee made the decision to ensure the polling process runs smoothly on that day which falls on Thursday, a working day.

"I hoped that all voters (staying outside) will return to vote and that the private sector will give time to their workers to vote if there is no holiday," he told reporters here today.

The Permatang Pauh by-election on May 7 witnesses a four-cornered fight between Barisan Nasional candidate Suhaimi Sabudin, PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Independent Salleh Isahak and Azman Shah Othman from Parti Rakyat Malaysia.

The by-election is being held after Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, was disqualified as the Member of Parliament when a petition by his family for royal pardon was rejected by the Pardons Board.