First-time voters leave KL at 2am to queue before dawn to vote

College students Chen Sheng and Shan Sheng, both 21, say they do not want to miss the opportunity to carry out their civic responsibility.

Polling centres across Johor opened at 8am today for the 16th state election.

PETALING JAYA:

A pair of first-time voters started queuing at the SK Taman Molek polling centre at 6am, clearly excited to cast their ballots in the Johor state election.

College students Chen Sheng and Shan Sheng, both 21, left Kuala Lumpur at 2am by car so they could reach the polling centre in Johor Bahru early in the morning.

Chen Sheng said they arrived in their hometown at 5.30am and managed to squeeze in a quick breakfast before forming a line outside the polling centre, Berita Harian reported.

“We didn’t want to miss the opportunity to vote. It’s our first time voting so we’re very excited. Every Malaysian should carry out their civic responsibility (and vote),” he said.

At the Sekolah Agama Taman Molek polling centre, disabled retiree Abdul Razak Hussain, 66, was among the early-birds this morning.

Razak said he booked an e-hailing vehicle to fetch him from his home in Taman Pelangi Indah to the polling centre, and officers at the polling centre assisted him upon his arrival.

“I still come out and vote (despite his disability) because it is important for the country. I hope youngsters do not miss this opportunity to vote as well,” he said.

The Puteri Wangsa seat is being contested by five candidates, including former education minister Maszlee Malik for Pakatan Harapan.

Muda president Amira Aisya Abd Aziz, who is not contesting this time around, won the seat with a solid 7,114-vote majority in the 2022 state polls under an election pact with PH. - FMT