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