Youth group launches #JohorNgundi to encourage young voters

 

A group of youths is starting a movement called #JohorNgundi to encourage young voters from Johor, who are out of state, to go home and vote in the upcoming state polls by offering free transportation.

The group said they are concerned many Johor voters, especially youths, will not return to vote because they assume the general election will be held soon.

They pointed out that is what happened with the Malacca snap polls which resulted in low voter turnout.

“It is not impossible that it (low turnout) will happen again in the Johor state elections.

“As such, we youths from Johor and various other states will start a campaign to get out the vote in Johor by preparing transportation services, whether it is through public transport or bus,” said the group’s spokesperson Aidi Zuhaili.

He was speaking during a press conference held at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall today.

The Johor election will be the first time Undi18 comes into effect, he said, but many youths are living outside of the state as they have just started working or studying.

Aidi said it would be difficult for these youths to return home to vote for the first time due to the transportation costs, especially as many are now struggling economically.

“We are a group of youths who love the country, who are worried and disappointed by the action taken by the Johor state government to dissolve the state assembly earlier than it should.

“We do not have any funds, we are not anyone important, but we will try our best to fundraise from our parents, our aunts and uncles, our relatives in Johor and from the rakyat nationwide who care enough to help the youths of Johor return to vote,” he said.

At the same time, Aidi also urged the public to donate to their campaign so that more young voters could return home to perform their civic duty.

More information about donating to the campaign can be found on their social media pages under ‘JohorNgundi’.

Aidi said they also approached and successfully gained the support of 15 student groups and NGOs to help them coordinate their plan.

So far, he said, their plan is to provide transportation at several hotspots nationwide, but the locations of the hotspots will have to depend on those who want to utilise their services.

While their focus is on youths, they said the transportation would also be open to all Johor voters who are interested.

Johor Menteri Besar Hasni Mohammad sought a dissolution of the state assembly last Saturday, paving the way for fresh polls within 60 days.

The Election Commission is expected to meet on Feb 9 to decide on the nomination and polling dates.

Umno triggered the snap poll while riding on its landslide win in the Malacca polls last November.

BN won 21 out of 28 seats in the Malacca polls, restoring its two-thirds majority in the state government. - Mkini