Man drives 120km to vote only to arrive a minute too late

 Rahmat Shukor blamed the delay on severe traffic congestion on his way from Batu Pahat to Johor Bahru.

Rahmat Shukor said he drove non-stop from Sri Medan, Batu Pahat, to SJK (C) Foon Yew 4 in Johor Bahru to vote but was moments too late. (Bernama pic)

JOHOR BAHRU:

A man drove 120km but ended up being unable to cast his vote in the 16th Johor state election after he arrived at the polling centre a minute late.

Rahmat Shukor, 57, who is self-employed, expressed his sadness and disappointment at being unable to cast his vote after getting caught in severe traffic congestion while travelling from Batu Pahat to Johor Bahru.

Although he drove non-stop from Sri Medan, Batu Pahat to SJK (C) Foon Yew 4 here to vote, his journey was severely delayed by unusually heavy traffic starting from the Simpang Renggam rest and recreation area towards Sedenak.

“I came all the way from Batu Pahat, not from here. The roads were congested. I have photos, I informed them, and I have proof that I was caught in the traffic jam,” he told Bernama outside the polling centre here today.

Rahmat said that despite trying several alternative routes to avoid congestion along the main Skudai road, he was unfortunate to arrive only moments after polling had officially ended.

Rahmat had originally planned to return to Johor Bahru yesterday but decided to spend the night at his late mother’s house in Sri Medan because he was exhausted after carrying out plantation and contract work.

The rest of his family, including his wife, had returned earlier on Friday and managed to cast their votes, leaving him as the only family member who missed the opportunity, he added.

Despite his disappointment, Rahmat said he accepted the situation and hoped the democratic process would proceed smoothly.

Voting for the 16th Johor state election officially concluded after all 1,076 polling centres across the state closed promptly at 6pm today. - FMT