SEREMBAN: For Nur Hanie Erqya Mazlan, 21, returning home over the weekend was more than just about exercising her right to vote.
It was also a chance to reunite with her siblings and parents.
And to make it even more memorable, the family of five made it a point to come out and cast their votes together.
“It’s not a daily affair but something that comes around after years of waiting. It’s also my first-time voting and doing so together with my family makes it an extremely precious memory,” said Nur Hanie Eryqa when met at the SMA Dato Klana Petra Maamor polling centre on Saturday (Aug 1).
She added that she intentionally applied for leave on Saturday and made the trip back from Kuala Lumpur late Friday (July 31) in order to cast her vote.
The entire voting experience was also memorable for her sister and fellow first-time voter, Nur Hanie Mazrieyna Mazlan, 20.
“Our mother also encouraged us to go and vote as it's our responsibility,” she said.
Their brother, Muhammad Faizul Ariq Daniel Muhammad Faiz, meanwhile said the family’s plans to cast their votes early also somehow aligned with his work schedule.
“When I was told about plans to go and vote together, I was initially concerned that my work commitments wouldn’t allow it but thankfully everything went well and we all have this memory together,” said the 27-year-old who works in the food and beverage sector.
It was also a family affair for 21-year-old Nur Izzah Zahra Mazmie, whose first experience at the ballot box was together with her sister Nur Iman Zulfaa Mazmie, 22.
“We chose to come and vote early in the day as there were other plans lined up. There’s also no excuse for me not to vote since I’m back home having a short semester with online classes at the moment,” said Nur Izzah Zahra, a first-year degree student at a public university.
For Nur Iman Zulfaa, she still felt the nerves when entering the polling centre despite having first voted during the 2023 Negri Sembilan polls..
She added that she now has the ability to better evaluate candidates contesting at the polls.
“Back then, most of the information we received were from our parents and family.
“Now, I have a better understanding of what’s going on and am able to make better decisions on the qualities I want my elected representatives to possess,” she said.
