SINGAPORE, April 13 — To help its Malaysian employees head home for Malaysia’s 14th general election on May 9, Swedish furniture giant Ikea said yesterday it would give them an extra day of paid leave.

But the employer appears to be the exception. It was the only company contacted by TODAY that is making a special concession to help Malaysian employees return home to vote. Out of about 30 firms contacted, five responded to queries.

The Malaysian Election Commission’s announcement this week of the election date, which is a Wednesday, has triggered a scramble for bus and plane tickets among overseas Malaysians looking to travel home.

Malaysians living in Singapore, Brunei, Southern Thailand and Kalimantan in Indonesia are not eligible to vote by post and are required to return to the country on election day to cast their vote.