Young voters all aflutter at their debut

Vahsnavi: The whole process has been a learning experience.

JOHOR BARU: The young, especially those in the Undi18 category, were excited and nervous at the prospect of voting for the first time.

For 19-year-old M. Vahsnavi, it was an interesting experience.

“I was actually reluctant to go and vote as I was working but my parents insisted that it was my duty and that I had to go and vote in the Tiram seat,” she said, adding that she was happy that the whole experience went smoothly.

Vahsnavi said being a first-time voter was a learning experience and she hoped to find out more about politics in the future.

Another first-time voter Nurfarisha Wahidah Mostapa@Zakaria, 19, was happy to be part of the process of electing a new government in Johor.

“I have always heard about people voting but I have never been able to vote, so being able to finally do so was exciting for me.

“I was scared because I did not know where to go and what to do, but luckily there were many Election Commission (EC) officers around to help,” she said, adding that she was grateful to be given an opportunity to vote.

Meanwhile third-year law student Lim San Shien, 21, said he, too, was excited that he was contributing towards electing his representative for the Perling seat.

“I voted at least twice in campus in Universiti Malaya and the process is similar,” he said after voting with his parents.

Lim, who is also UM’s Young Leaders Association president, said the EC officers were professional and helped him along the way when he cast his vote.

In Muar, 18-year-old P. Tarshinie was a little nervous going to the polls in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) student said she felt a bit nervous going out to vote at first, but she made the necessary preparations in order to stay safe.

“I was worried about Covid-19 but as a citizen I have to fulfil my duties and responsibilities.

“I also followed the relevant standard operating procedure (SOP) including wearing a face mask and bringing my own hand sanitiser,” she said yesterday.

Tarshinie was among the thousands of youths aged between 18 and 20 who were eligible to cast their ballots in the Johor polls, making them the first in this age group to vote in Malaysia.

She said she had come early to her voting centre at SMK Datuk Seth with her two sisters to avoid the crowd.

“After voting, I felt a sense of pride,” said Tarshinie, who turned up at 9.20am.

In Pasir Gudang, private college student S. Janani, 21, who is voting in the Permas seat, hoped the new state government could provide better education opportunities for youths.

The Permas seat saw a five-cornered fight – Baharudin Mohamed Taib from Barisan Nasional, Tazul Arifin (Perikatan Nasional), Mahaya Ahad (Pejuang), Syed Othman Syed Abdullah (Pakatan Harapan) and Mohamed Ridza Busu (Warisan).