JELEBU: Polling day carried double significance for Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias, as it also marked his 39th wedding anniversary with his wife Datin Seri Maziah Mohd Nor.
The Barisan Nasional candidate for the Pertang state seat joked that he had not bought his wife a present yet.
“I didn’t prepare any gift for my wife but there will be a surprise later,” he said after voting at SK Putra in Simpang Durian.
Maziah smiled as she thanked those who had congratulated the couple on their anniversary.
Earlier, Jalaluddin arrived at the polling centre with Maziah and their child at about 8.45am to cast his vote.
Meanwhile, polling for lifelong friends Limah Ujang, Juda Amin and Erah Manap came with plenty of laughter.
The three women, who arrived together to cast their ballots, quickly became the centre of attention while waiting in line.
Limah and Erah’s spontaneous melatah – an involuntary and often humorous startle response familiar in Malay culture – kept fellow voters thoroughly entertained.
Their exchanges drew smiles and laughter from those around them, briefly lifting the mood as voters queued patiently before entering the polling station.
“What?! Yes, yes, this is not my first time voting here. It’s my 30th time. Eh, no! What am I talking about?” said Limah, drawing laughter from others in the queue.
Despite the light-hearted moments, the trio, who are in their late 60s, remained focused on their civic duty, joining the early morning crowd to cast their votes soon after polling began at 8am.
After voting, Limah emerged from the polling station proudly displaying her ink-stained finger, marking the end of another election shared with the same friends she has known for years.
“See you again at the next election,” one of them joked as the three walked away together, still laughing.
