Kota Kinabalu: Higher Education Deputy Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud urged universities to review and reschedule their academic and convocation dates to ensure Sabahan students in Peninsular Malaysia can return home to vote in the coming 17th State Election on Nov 29.
He emphasised the need to address the overlaps between election dates and university convocations/examinations to enable Sabah students nationwide to exercise their voting rights.
“I will be asking the Minister and the Department of Higher Education to re-evaluate the schedules so that our university students can return home to vote and fulfil their responsibilities as voters,” he said.
Mustapha was responding to concerns raised by Kota Belud MP Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis regarding the clash between the Sabah election and final examination periods for Polytechnic students, as well as UiTM’s convocation ceremony.
Drawing from a similar situation involving Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), where the convocation date conflicted with polling day, Mustapha highlighted the importance of adjusting schedules.
“I personally requested the Vice-Chancellor to review the schedule, and it was brought forward. I hope other universities with large numbers of Sabahan students will also adjust their convocation and examination dates to enable young voters to exercise their democratic rights,” he said.
Mustapha also reiterated his call for the Election Commission (EC) to introduce postal voting for students, making it easier for them to participate in elections without logistical or financial burdens.
He added that such a mechanism would also benefit Malaysians living abroad and Sabahan voters residing in the peninsula.
Isnaraissah had expressed concern that the overlapping dates placed Sabah students in a difficult position, forcing them to choose between academic commitments and civic duty.
She urged the Higher Education Ministry and the Election Commission to act immediately to resolve the issue, saying young people should be encouraged to participate in democracy, not hindered by institutional barriers.
