JOHOR BARU: Casting their first ballots on their 20th birthday made this year’s celebration even more meaningful for identical twins Emir Aqif Jaihar Jailani and Emir Afiq Jaihar Jailani.
The twins, who are registered voters in the Perling constituency, marked two milestones by voting for the first time at SJKT Ladang Bukit Serampang in Bukit Indah before heading home to celebrate their birthday with their family.
They arrived at the polling centre at about 12.20pm after a 30-minute drive from their home in Taman Bukit Indah.
“Although the journey would normally take about 10 minutes, heavy traffic and rainy weather delayed our trip,” he said.
Emir Aqif, the elder twin by a few minutes, cast his ballot first, followed shortly by Emir Afiq.
Both are currently on their semester break, allowing them to return home and fulfil their civic duty together.
Emir Aqif is pursuing a Diploma in Naval Architecture and Shipbuilding at Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Institute of Marine Engineering Technology (UniKL MIMET) in Sitiawan, Perak.
Emir Afiq is studying accounting at Kolej Poly-Tech Mara in Bangi, Selangor.
“Celebrating our birthday on polling day made the occasion even more memorable.
“It is extra special because this is our first time voting and we get to play a part in choosing Johor’s future,” Emir Aqif said.
“We are both proud to exercise our democratic right as Johoreans.
“Being able to vote is an important milestone for us. We hope the leaders elected will understand the frustrations and challenges faced by young people,” Emir Afiq said.
“We want leaders who prioritise education and ensure quality education is accessible to people from all walks of life, starting from a young age,” they said.
The twins said they hoped more young Malaysians would actively participate in elections and contribute towards shaping the country’s future through the ballot box.
