RI maids may not be able to vote

RI maids may not be able to vote

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Thousands of Indonesian maids in Singapore
might not be able to vote in the elections because they were not
given time off by their employers, a maid said.

"Based on previous experience, it has been difficult for us to
take leave if the day is not a Singapore national holiday," said
Yan, one among the thousands of Indonesian maids living with her
employers in Singapore.

Singapore Indonesian Embassy spokesman Chalief Akbar said on
Sunday the embassy had notified Indonesian maids and their
employers of the elections, so the maids could be permitted to
take at least several hours leave to vote.

Voting for the legislative election will begin on April 5. In
Singapore, voting will be held in the Indonesian embassy. The
embassy will provide 213 ballot boxes.

About 70,000 Indonesians live in Singapore, 80 percent who are
listed as eligible to vote. -- Antara