Malaysia’s federal government has declared May 9, polling day, a public holiday. This is to allow all Malaysians to fulfil their responsibilities as voters, said the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in a statement on Wednesday April 11. Many had expressed concern that having the vote on a Wednesday, Malaysia’s first weekday poll in nearly two decades, would affect turnout at the ballot boxes. Malaysians had reacted to announcement of the weekday polling date by taking to social media. On Tuesday, the hashtag #PulangMengundi or “Go home to vote” trended on Twitter, with Malaysians offering financial assistance and transportation to those who want to travel back to their hometowns to vote. Malaysia’s longest serving prime minister Mahathir Mohamad also criticized the Election Commission’s decision.