Senior citizen ‘escapes’ from hospital to vote

JOHOR BARU: A septuagenarian who has been warded since Monday “escaped” from Hospital Sultanah Aminah to cast his ballot for the Pulai parliamentary by-election.

Daud Ismail, 71, said although the hospital staff tried to prevent him, he insisted on going to the polling station at Sekolah Agama Bandar in Jalan Yahya Awal, located less than 3km away, with the help of his adopted son.

“I asked my adopted son to take me to the polling station, which is not far from the hospital,” he told Bernama.

Daud, who was hospitalised for diabetes, kidney disease, a swollen heart and thick blood, was grateful that the voting process was quick and smooth.

He arrived at the polling station at 10.29am in a wheelchair, wearing a hospital gown and holding an IV drip, and was able to cast his vote within two minutes, thanks to the help of the Election Commission (EC) staff.

“It doesn’t matter who I vote for, it is my responsibility for the country. My advice to young people is to go and vote. Don’t take it lightly,” he said.