KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today stressed that his remarks regarding the Johor state election dates were merely a personal view aimed at encouraging a higher voter turnout, and not an attempt to interfere in the Election Commission’s (EC) decision.

He said the EC was an independent body with the sole authority to determine polling dates, although he believed Sunday voting would make it easier for Malaysians working in Singapore to return home to cast their ballots.

“Many Malaysians are working in Singapore, and many of them work half-day on Saturdays. So, I think Sunday would be better. But the EC is an independent body. If it decides on Saturday, that is its decision.

“My remarks were made in that context and should not be construed as interference. If I were interfering, it would be a different matter,” he said during Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was responding to a supplementary question from Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas), who sought clarification over media reports on Anwar’s remarks during the Johor state election campaign regarding the decision to hold polling on a Saturday instead of a Sunday.

Anwar also said he had no intention of contacting his Singapore counterpart Lawrence Wong over voting arrangements for the state election, stressing that Malaysia adhered to the principle of non-interference in another country’s electoral process.

He said that although Malaysia enjoyed excellent ties with Singapore, including his personal relationship with Wong, matters relating to elections remained Malaysia’s internal affair.

“I have no plans to contact the Prime Minister of Singapore over voting or elections in Malaysia,” he said in reply to a supplementary question from Mohd Sany Hamzan (PH-Hulu Langat), who suggested that Malaysia engage Singapore to facilitate the return of Malaysian voters for the state election.

However, Anwar said companies in Singapore had merely been informed to facilitate Malaysian employees returning home to vote whenever an election was held. — Bernama