SEKINCHAN: Despite difficulty walking and moving about, Lim Wei Hoong joined the crowd who came out to vote at SMK Yoke Kuan.
The 33-year-old, who has Down Syndrome, turned up at the polling centre with his two younger sisters at 9am.
According to one sister, who only wanted to be known as Lim, her brother had been looking forward to polling day.
“For days, he had been asking us where the polling centre was, what time we had to be there and today, he woke up extra early.
“We didn’t have to teach him anything or remind him of the party symbols as he is well aware of the process.
“This is his second time voting and he knows who he is going to vote for,” she told Bernama when met at the polling centre here yesterday.
Asked how he felt being part of the election process, Wei Hoong said, “I am very happy.”
Equally thrilled to be out voting was another person with Down Syndrome, Rubee Nur Amirah, 30, who cast her ballots for the Wakaf Mempelam state seat and Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election.
Proud voters: Wei Hoong (top), who has Down Syndrome, showing his inked finger after casting his vote in Sekinchan, as do OKU Mohd Saiful and his father, Yaakub Harun (right) after casting their ballots in Kota Lama. — Bernama
Met at SK Pusat Cabang Tiga in Kuala Terengganu, Rubee said she could not wait to show off her inked finger to her teachers in school.
According to her mother Rabiah Ismail, 60, Rubee expressed her desire to vote and had been ready to go early in the morning.
“We encouraged her to go ahead. It doesn’t matter who she votes for; at least, she knows that voting is important,” said Rabiah, adding that this is Rubee’s second time voting in an election.
In Kedah, visually impaired couple Roseri Ismail, 52, and his wife Rohana Abdul Manaf, 50, were among the voters waiting in line at SK Seri Dusun, Sik.
Roseri and Rohana, who live in Kampung Namek Tua, arrived at the school at 9.45am with the help of a friend, Dahari Ahmad, 72, who also came to cast his vote for the Belantek state seat.
“Every time there is an election, my wife and I would make it a point to exercise our rights,” said Roseri, who has been blind since birth.
Rohana said they chose to come out early to avoid the crowd and possibility of rain in the afternoon.In Kelantan, physically disabled Mohd Saiful Fahmi Yaakub, 36, was at the polling centre at SK Islah as early as 9.30am.
He was accompanied by his father Yaakub Harun, 63, brother Mohd Adli, 39, and sister Siti Khadijah Farhana, 33.
Yaakub said Mohd Saiful, who can only crawl, has never missed an opportunity to cast his vote despite having to depend on people to get him in and out of a car.
“Whenever he is asked if he would Iike to go out to vote, he would nod incessantly and give a wide grin. Thankfully, the voting process for people with disabilities is smooth and well facilitated. Everything was over within five minutes,” said Yaakub.
SK Islah is the polling centre for the Tanjong Mas state seat.
Normazni Mohd Sharipudin, 40, arrived at SK Islah from Kampung Paya Bemban at about 9am with her husband who has a hearing impairment.
Normazni, who is deaf and mute herself, had to use sign language to communicate with the Election Commission officials.
“I am all out to vote for a leader who is trustworthy and cares for the welfare of the people, especially those like me. I urge all those with disabilities to come out to vote as every vote counts.
“I hope that the results of the polls will bring changes for the better in Kelantan,” she told reporters via WhatsApp.
