KOTA KINABALU: Private-sector employers in Sabah are being reminded to let their staff vote in the 17th Sabah State Election on 29 November 2025.
The right is protected under Section 25(1) of the Election Offences Act 1954, which requires employers to give workers reasonable time to vote without cutting their pay or punishing them for being absent during that period.
The Sabah Labour Department is urging employers to offer time off for those voting nearby, or a full day off for those who need to travel farther.
Workers who need more than a day to reach their polling stations may use annual leave.
Employers and employees should agree on whether time off or annual leave is used if polling day is not declared a public holiday.
Employers who ignore Section 25(1) can face a RM5,000 fine or up to one year in jail.
