By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 6: Getting young voters studying or working outside their hometowns to return home and cast their ballots on Dec 12 will be one of the biggest challenges for Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth during the 14-day campaign period for the 13th Sarawak Election.
According to the statement, PRS Youth chief Christopher Gira Sambang said many young voters were studying at universities and colleges or working in urban areas, making it difficult for them to travel home due to academic and work commitments.
He said mobilising these voters to return to their respective constituencies for polling day would be a key challenge for the party’s youth wing.
“We have to get these voters home for polling day, and that will be one of the main challenges facing PRS Youth,” he said.
The Election Commission has set Nov 28 for nomination day and Dec 12 for polling, giving candidates and political parties 14 days to campaign. Early voting will take place on Dec 8.
Gira believes the campaign period is sufficient for candidates to meet voters, and to explain their priorities and outline their commitments.
He welcomed the announcement, saying it provided political parties, candidates and voters with a clear timetable following the dissolution of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Oct 26.
On engaging young voters in rural and remote constituencies, he said improved road connectivity and wider internet coverage had made it easier for PRS Youth to reach communities, including those living in longhouses.
“Yes, I believe it is sufficient. Improved road access and wider internet coverage have made it easier to communicate with young voters in rural areas,” he said.
He added that these developments would also help the party’s grassroots machinery maintain communication with young voters throughout the campaign.
“Digital platforms will play an important role in our communication during the campaign,” he said while complementing physical visits made possible by better road access.
With improved connectivity, PRS Youth members would be able to move more easily between communities while keeping in touch with young voters in rural areas. –DayakDaily
