JOHOR BARU: A strong demand for transport services ahead of polling day for the Johor state election is an encouraging sign of voter participation, says Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
He said all available tickets for the Electric Train Service (ETS) had been sold out, while several bus companies were also offering special packages to help outstation voters return to Johor.
He reiterated his call for Johor voters living outside the state to return home to cast their ballots this Saturday (July 11).
“We remain confident and have our own strategy. Most importantly, we want to ensure that Johoreans living outside the state come home to vote,” he told reporters after visiting Bernama’s media centre for the Johor state election at a hotel here on Tuesday (July 7).
He said he had checked with the Transport Ministry on the availability of additional ETS services but was informed that the trains were already operating at maximum capacity and no extra services could be added.
Fahmi also welcomed efforts by bus operators offering special travel packages and noted that students at youth and sports training institutes had been given leave to return home to vote.
He also urged employers, particularly in the retail and food and beverage sectors, to allow their workers time off to fulfil their civic duty.
“I hope more parents will encourage their children to come back and vote.
"This is important not only as our responsibility as citizens, but also as Bangsa Johor to make a choice that will shape the next five years,” he said.
On election-related misinformation, Fahmi said no complaints had been received so far over campaign activities on social media, although authorities remained concerned about the possible spread of false election results on polling night.
He said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) would continue engaging with social media platforms to ensure such content is removed swiftly.
On media freedom, Fahmi said the government would continue supporting the newly established Malaysian Media Council to enable it to play a stronger role in industry self-regulation.
He also expressed hope that more social media platforms would join the council, saying this would help address issues involving unethical online content and misinformation, particularly content that does not take Malaysia’s legal and social context into account.
Fahmi also said he had instructed MCMC to ensure 4G and 5G coverage at stations along the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link would be at the highest level before the cross-border rail service begins operations on Jan 1, 2027.
