JOHOR BARU: A man drove 120km but was unable to cast his vote in the Johor election after arriving at the polling centre just a minute late.
Rahmat Shukor, 57, who is self-employed, expressed his sadness and disappointment at missing the opportunity to vote after being caught in severe traffic congestion while travelling from Batu Pahat to Johor Baru.
Although he drove non-stop from Sri Medan, Batu Pahat, to SJK(C) Foon Yew 4 here, his journey was severely delayed by unusually heavy traffic from the Simpang Renggam rest and recreation area to Sedenak.
“I came all the way from Batu Pahat, not from here. The roads were congested. I have photos, I informed them, and I have proof that we were caught in the traffic jam,” he told Bernama outside the polling centre yesterday.
Rahmat said that despite trying several alternative routes to avoid congestion along the main Skudai road, he arrived only moments after polling had officially ended.
He had originally planned to return to Johor Baru on Friday but decided to spend the night at his late mother’s house in Sri Medan because he was exhausted after carrying out plantation and contract work.
The rest of his family, including his wife, had returned earlier on Friday and managed to cast their votes, leaving him as the only family member who missed the opportunity, he added.
