GE15: A family reunion as businessman, four children return home to vote

Businessman Thomas Simon, 55, centre with his four children including three voting for the first time. From left Dr Veronica Thomas, 30, Sabrina Thomas, 24, Silvia Isabell Thomas, 20 and Joshua Thomas, 28, after they voted in the Tebrau parliamentary. — THOMAS YONG/The Star

JOHOR BARU: It was a reunion of sorts for businessman Thomas Simon and his four children, as they all returned home to vote, including one from Singapore.

Three of his daughters, Dr Veronica Thomas, 30, Sabrina Thomas, 24 and Silvia Isabell Thomas, 20, are all first time voters.

Single parent Thomas Simon, 55, said that his children were excited about polling day despite the rainy weather since 8am.

"The last time we gathered like this was during Christmas. Anyway, after voting we all had breakfast together before moving around to visit relatives.

"My son Joshua Thomas is getting married on Jan 7. Now that we are all together as a family, it is easier for us to go around giving out his wedding invitation cards," he said when met after polling in Taman Gaya.

Joshua, 28, who works in Kuala Lumpur, was upbeat about the polls and even drove down to Johor along with two friends who were voters here.

"I have voted in the past and was excited about carpooling with my friends back to Johor," he added.

Asked about what made them come out to vote, Dr Veronica, who is a houseman in a local government hospital, said that they all decided to play their part for the country.

"Actually I was tired after a 12-hour shift late Friday. But I was inspired by the pleas via social media by our local leaders on the last day of campaigning," she said, adding that many of her friends were also upbeat about voting.

Dr Veronica said she and her siblings keenly followed the country's politics via social media, especially in the last two weeks.

"I am sure many young people will be voting as they too want their voices to be heard," she said, hoping that the new government would be fair to everyone and help propel the country forward.

The whole family voted in the Tebrau constituency, which is the biggest parliamentary constituency among the 26 seats with 223,301 voters.

The seat involves a three-cornered fight between Barisan Nasional's Datuk Nicole Wong, Pakatan Harapan's Jimmy Puah and Mohamad Isa Mohamad Basir from Perikatan Nasional.