Many arrive at polls early to beat the rush
JOHOR BARU: At 95 years old, Tengku Zohoriah Zainuddin remains steadfast in her duty to vote as a Malaysian citizen.
“My grandson wheeled me into the polling station as I have walking difficulties.
“Since we were among the earliest to arrive at 8.05am, it took me about five minutes to complete the voting process,” said Tengku Zohoriah, who has 38 great-grandchildren.
Although she has been voting for more than seven decades, the Puteri Wangsa constituent said she still felt excited to cast her vote and picked a blue outfit and tudung for the day.
“We must always remember what the country has gone through and keep the peace,” she added.
Another voter Sheila Grewal, 50, also showed up early to cast her ballot before taking on the role of a “chauffeur” to drive elderly voters to their respective polling centres in the city.
“Their polling centres were in different constituencies such as Johor Jaya, Permas and Larkin but I was happy to oblige as it is our civic duty to vote,” she added.
For Prathishwaran Shanmugam, a long journey home and time away from medical school were a small price he was willing to pay to exercise his right as a voter.
The 22-year-old, who is studying in Kelantan, joined the wave of outstation voters making their way home for polling day.
“I came back last Wednesday night,” he said when met at SMK Bandar Baru Uda, a polling station for the Larkin state constituency.
Salon owner Woh Chooi Lai, 57, made it a family affair and headed to the polls with her two daughters Chong Siew Teng, 30, and Chong Kah Man, 36.
“My daughters were off from work but they followed my timing to vote early because I had to open my shop after that. They had the luxury of going back to sleep after but I had to work,” said Woh.
