Opposition parties in Johor offer free bus rides and carpool services

JOHOR BARU: Opposition parties here are offering free bus rides and carpool services to get voters to return to Johor to cast their votes.

Johor DAP had sourced 10 buses, funded by the public, to bring back Malaysians working in Singapore on May 9.

This came about after news emerged that bus tickets from Singapore to Malaysia were sold out, said state DAP campaign manager George Poh.

“These buses are going to Batu Pahat, Segamat, Kluang and Muar. The buses seat 400. We hope for more sponsors,” Poh said, adding that the trips were one-way as the organisers were unclear when voters would want to head back south.

PAS also announced they would be providing free carpool services.

Its state deputy chairman Dr Mohd Mazri Yahya said the party’s Match and Mix carpool service was spearheaded by their supporters.

“We will act as the intermediary in connecting the driver and passenger and vice-versa to travel together to vote,” he said, adding that the offer was also open to Malaysians working in Singapore.

However, PAS will not pair men and women together unless they are a family.

Johor Amanah deputy chief Dzulkefly Ahmad said the party was keen to offer a similar service for voters and expects a decision soon.

“Previously, we only helped arrange for voters from Klang Valley to travel to state by-election locations. This will be the party’s first general election and we hope to be able to do it,” he said.

He said the party was checking on the number of Johor voters that were based in other states or in Singapore, as well as their own surveys before deciding on how to best implement the service.

“We are on a tight budget but we will try our best to help voters come back to vote,” he said.

Johor PKR deputy chief Jimmy Puah Wee Tse said the party had no plans for a similar measure but welcomed the initiative.

“We will help share and promote the people and organisations who will be providing this service for voters,” he said.