SHAH ALAM, Nov 9 — Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari today announced November 18 as a public holiday in Selangor in consideration of outstation voters who will need to travel home to cast their ballots on polling day the next day.

Amirudin, who lead the Pakatan Harapan state government, added that the decision will be gazetted next week.

“We can allow many citizens to return to their hometowns to vote, at the same time allowing the citizens of Selangor to go home to vote more comfortably,” he told a news conference here this afternoon.

“I also call on the federal government to announce the same thing for the convenience of all parties,” he added.

Polling day for the 15th general election falls on November 19.

Apart from the federal government, Amirudin said he had also talked to other PH state leaders and was confident they would be making the same announcement soon.

“We (Selangor) only finalised the matter earlier today,” he said, adding that the declaration will apply to both the public and private sectors.

Commenting further, Amiruddin, who is also PKR vice-president, said Selangor would revoke its gazettement should the federal government announce November 18 as a public holiday.