KUALA LUMPUR – Millions of Malaysians from all walks of life took to the polling stations in Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Penang to exercise their right to vote for their respective state governments.
For some voters, this represents yet another election in a series of polls over the years. However, for others, this marks their inaugural state-level election, if not their very first electoral participation.
Notably, many dedicated long-term voters braved physical disabilities and challenges to cast their ballots, underscoring the profound significance they attach to the civic duty of voting.
At SMK Taman Dato’ Harun, senior citizen Johariah Endut, 82, says she has never missed a chance to vote in her life and will continue fulfilling her civic responsibility as a Malaysian during election time.
Even though she has difficulty walking, she did not bring her own wheelchair to the polling centre as she was sure that the Election Commission (EC) would provide one for her.
She later said her voting process went smoothly and EC personnel gave her all the assistance she needed.
Assisted with a walking stick, a senior citizen was the first to cast his ballot at SMK Saujana Utama in Sungai Buloh for DUN Paya Jaras. He was helped to a wheelchair by an EC official.
Even with a leg injury, a voter walked patiently to the polling station at SMK Bandar Baru Bangi to cast his vote for DUN Sg Ramal. As a resident of 40 years, he said, “I’ve never missed a chance to vote so far.”
At SK Sungai Kertas, 70-year-old voter Nagamma Kuppan says that she has been voting since the age of 21 and that it brings her great joy whenever she votes for the country and the state of Selangor.
The EC has noted that young voters, particularly those between the ages of 21 and 29, make up the largest demographic among the total 9,773,571 registered voters. This, of course, comes after the implementation of the Undi18 law that extends the right to vote to those who have just turned 18.
Eager young voters are spotted outside SMK Sultan Abdul Samad while they wait to cast their ballots for DUN Bukit Gasing.
Some voters like Abdul Qayim Roslan, 26, took time out of a busy day as he stopped by the polling centre at SMK Seri Keramat before attending his akad nikah ceremony in the morning.
As of publication, Terengganu leads the voter turnout with 64%, with Kedah (63%), Penang (60%), Selangor (58%), Negri Sembilan (56%), and Kelantan (51%) following suit. – August 12, 2023