PONTIAN: It was a close call for a 31-year-old technician who almost missed the opportunity to vote when he arrived at his polling station here just seven minutes before the gates were closed.
Choi Kai Hang said he was swamped at work earlier and only managed to leave in the evening.
"I was planning to vote in the morning but it was raining and there was traffic congestion around the area, so I decided to go later.
"I got caught up with work and did not notice the time. I only realised I was running out of time at around 5.30pm and rushed to the polling centre," he said when met at SJKC Yu Ming in Pekan Nanas here on Saturday (Nov 19).
"I was very nervous and rushed all the way here. Thankfully, my workplace is nearby.
"When the Election Commission (EC) officers said I could still make it, I was relieved," he said.
Meanwhile, housewife Phua Ai Ling, 52, said she decided to cast her vote later in the day to avoid having to wait in line too long.
"In the past, I came early in the morning to vote and each time, I had to wait for at least 30 minutes due to the long queue.
"So, this time, I decided to come late in the evening when there is hardly anyone here.
"As expected, there was no crowd and it took me only a few minutes to cast my vote," said Phua, who arrived at 5.47pm.
Another voter, Tan Yoou Hock, 67, was however unable to cast his vote as he arrived two minutes after the centre closed.
"I could not vote in the morning as it was raining heavily until noon.
"After the rain stopped, I walked by the polling centre but there was a large crowd so I decided to come later.
"Unfortunately, I lost track of time and did not notice that it was almost 6pm," he said.
Tan, who sells fruits at his stall, said that although he was disappointed, he understood that the officers at the polling centre had to keep to the schedule.
"They tried to help but there was nothing they could do. I will take this as a lesson," he said, adding that he will vote earlier in the next election.
