JOHOR BARU: A total of 130,184 people are eligible to vote for the first time in this state election.
Many of them, who work in Singapore, have indicated that they are not going to miss the chance to make their “debut” at the polling centre.
Based on statistics, Kota Iskandar is the seat with the highest number of new voters, with 16,164 people, followed by Puteri Wangsa (15,919), Tiram (11,789), Permas (10,365), Perling (8,729) and Johor Jaya (5,803).
All these seats are in the south of the state, close to Singapore. And a bulk of these first-time voters work on the island republic, commuting daily to get to their workplace.
“Even though I’m busy with work, I think voting is important because every vote counts,” said retail employee Peh Kai Ni, 20.
“We only have one vote each, but together our choices can shape the state’s future. That’s why I think it’s important for us to participate,” she said.
Unable to attend the ceramah in person, Perling voter Peh is relying on news reports, social media and livestreams to stay updated ahead of polling day. Her parents would sometimes share their views with her, she said.
“But they respect my independence and have asked me to decide for myself.”
Peh said she is weighing each party’s direction but is also looking for candidates who genuinely care about the people and listen to public concerns.
Maintenance worker Anas Najwan Saifullah Abdul Razak, 21, who will vote in Skudai, said he is eager to cast his ballot on Saturday.
“As a citizen, it is my responsibility to vote. I want to see change and the state’s progress,” he said.
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Anas said he would judge candidates based on their personality, track record and ability to serve the people rather than support a party blindly.
Senior bartender Aloysius Ruben Lam, 20, who is voting in Perling, said he had not been able to attend any talks by the parties.
“But I pay close attention to how candidates engage with the public. I do so through social media platforms,” he said, adding that his mother occasionally shares her political views with him, too.
As a frequent commuter to Singapore, Lam’s main concern is infrastructure, noting that it becomes a major problem for him whenever the immigration system breaks down.
“It is tiring to stand in long queues. I hope they pay a lot of attention to ensure everything runs smoothly at the border. They should also be prepared for other issues like power outages, which I have experienced before. It was a horrible experience,” he added.
For him, a candidate may come from a party that he does not necessarily agree with, “but if he is a good person who genuinely serves the people, then he deserves my vote.”
Perling voter Kelvin Chang Kai Wen, 21, sees the election as a crucial test of whether leaders are truly committed to helping ordinary Malaysians.
“I’ll most likely vote for the candidate who is close to the people,” said the kitchen assistant, adding that leaders should be judged on how they serve the rakyat.
