Missing out due to Covid-19 infection

JOHOR BARU: The big day has arrived but for some voters, it’s a case of “so near yet so far” as they have to miss the chance to mark “X” on the ballot paper.

These unfortunate voters have been infected with Covid-19.

“I am very frustrated and upset with the situation. I had been very excited to vote as this would have been my first time doing so,” said university student Mohd Faiz Rahman, 24.

Earlier, he had made all his transport arrangements.

“I had it all planned out. I was going to take a bus with my friend on Friday morning and vote the next day before returning to campus on Sunday.”

But he tested positive for Covid-19 last Sunday after coming into close contact with another patient.

Now Mohd Faiz is at the Sungai Buloh quarantine centre in Selangor.

“I had to forgo all of my plans as my quarantine period will only end on Sunday, one day after polling day,” he said.

Retiree Ngoi Kok Sen, who was found to be positive on Wednesday, said he was disappointed to be missing his chance to vote in the state election.

He said he had always tried his best to exercise his right to vote.

“Even in my younger days when I worked in Singapore, I always made it a point to return to vote in the general elections,” said Ngoi, 65.

“Unfortunately, I am now confined at home due to Covid-19,” he said.

However, he said he had encouraged his children, including his son who would be a first-time voter, to head out and cast their ballots.

Another person who would be missing out on the chance to vote is Bernama journalist C. Vinoothene, 29.

She had earlier been deployed back to her hometown in Johor on Feb 23 to cover the polls.

“I was very excited about this election. This is not just the first time I get to cover polling day but it would have also been the first time I am voting,” she said.

Unfortunately, she tested positive for Covid-19 following a routine RTK test on Wednesday.

“I was shocked when I saw the double lines, as I had tested negative the day before,” she said, adding that she felt devastated after seeing her result.

“I even shed some tears when I saw the result.

“My plans to vote and cover the election were dashed in the blink of an eye,” said Vinoothene, who is now self-isolating at home.

The Puteri Wangsa voter said that she would still be covering the election remotely on polling day despite being under home quarantine.

“I may not be able to cover it physically but I can still help out my colleagues in other ways like monitoring Facebook live videos.

“Perhaps this will help ease some of my sadness of having missed out on the opportunity,” she said.