JOHOR BARU: Whether by car, motorcycle or bus, most Johor folk working in Singapore say they will come home for the July 11 state election.
They said they have chosen to build their careers in the island republic, but Johor remains home and they want a say in how the state is run.
Credit analyst Chan Weng Yeap, who will be making a three-hour drive from Singapore to Segamat, said he is looking forward to travelling back to his hometown with his wife to cast their votes.
“For me, it is not much of a problem. Coming back is a must,” he said.
Chan, 32, plans to drive home a day before polling day.
“It is our responsibility as citizens to vote.
“I want to be involved in deciding the best leader who can give my hometown a brighter future.
“My wife is also from Segamat, but she is a voter for the Pemanis state seat, which is just next to Jementah where I vote. Our polling stations are probably just five minutes apart.
“In the previous general election, we also travelled together to vote, but back then we had yet to marry. This is the first time we will be voting together as husband and wife,” he said.
Chan, who has been following Malaysian politics from a young age, said he will decide who to vote for based on the candidates’ track records, especially when it comes to addressing community issues.
“Since it is a state election, my focus is on local issues,” Chan added.
M. Satish, who works in Singapore as a health, safety and environment officer, said that one issue he would be paying close attention to in this election is Johor’s transport infrastructure.
“For me, the most pressing issue in Johor Baru is public transportation. This is long overdue.
“Traffic congestion is very bad, sometimes even worse than in Kuala Lumpur,” said Satish, who commutes to work daily on his motorcycle.
The journey takes about 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the traffic from Johor Baru.
Satish, 35, said he will be making his way home to vote in Skudai.
“For me, it is not a big problem since I live in Johor Baru and commute to work daily.
“So, I will be home during the election since it is on a weekend and it is also my duty as a citizen to cast my vote,” he said.
He acknowledged that the current state government had addressed some of the local issues.
“It has done some good things such as improving public spaces, but those are supplementary measures.
“The main issue remains public transport and road infrastructure. Those are the things that need urgent attention,” Satish said.
Salesperson Nur Amirah Khalid, 23, who also works in Singapore, said that returning home to vote in Pekan Nanas, Pontian, was never in question.
She takes the bus daily to get to work from Johor Baru to Singapore.
Come polling day, she plans to drive to Pontian.
Nur Amirah said she hoped the next state administration would improve public amenities, particularly in smaller towns.
“Voting is one of the few opportunities we have to directly influence the future of our state.
“Even though I work in Singapore, Johor is my home. The decisions made by the state government will affect my family and my future here,” she said.
