KUCHING: Hours after the conclusion of the state election, Sarawak PKR claimed the polls lacked legitimacy and accused Gabungan Parti Sarawak of voter suppression.

       It said GPS' determination to hold the state polls before the end of the year is to suppress the votes of the youth as it was timed deliberately to take place before Undi-18 comes into force on Jan 1 2022.

       "As a result, about 150,000 young voters have missed the opportunity to vote in this election," it said on Sunday (Dec 19).

       PKR also claimed that the Election Commission also failed to implement postal votes for voters in Peninsula Malaysia, despite nearly 250,000 Sarawakians living there and majority of whom could not return to Sarawak to vote due to exorbitant air tickets.

       The government, it said, also did not implement a price cap in order to facilitate Sarawakians' journey home to vote.

       "The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the election being held on a Saturday both led to poor voter turnout," it said

       "Had the election been held on a Sunday it would have given Sarawakians who live across Sarawak time to make the long journey home to vote," added PKR.

       It also claimed that the opposition did not have equal access to mainstream media compared to GPS candidates.

       Electoral reform was needed urgently to ensure free and fair elections and an end to political hegemony and money politics in Sarawak, the statement added.