JELEBU: Polling day this year carried double significance for Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias, who marked his 39th wedding anniversary with wife Datin Seri Maziah Mohd Nor after the couple cast their ballots together on Saturday (Aug 1).
The Barisan Nasional candidate for the Pertang state seat joked that he had not bought his wife a present yet, but promised he would surprise her later.
Maziah, meanwhile, smiled as she thanked those who had congratulated the couple on their anniversary.
Earlier, Jalaluddin, dressed in a blue shirt, arrived at the polling centre with his wife and their child at about 8.45am before casting his vote at around 9.40am.
The Jelebu MP is defending the Pertang seat in a three-cornered contest against Pakatan Harapan's Mohd Umry Abdul Khois and Bersatu's Mohd Faizal Fadli Mohd Idrus.
In the last state election, Jalaluddin defeated Perikatan Nasional's Amirudin Hasan by a majority of 2,844 votes.
He also urged Negri Sembilan voters to fulfil their civic duty, saying today's poll would determine the state's leadership for the next five years.
"I am confident voter turnout will continue to increase throughout the day, and I hope it will exceed 70%, similar to the previous election," he told reporters after voting at SK Putra in Simpang Durian.
"The people have an important role in shaping the state's future. This is an opportunity to determine a stable and prosperous future for Negri Sembilan over the next five years," he added.
