Over 40 people had lined up before the SK Taman Sutera polling centre’s gates opened in Perling, while more voters started streaming in at SK Taman Bukit Kempas only after 8am, to vote in the Kempas seat.
Maryam, who has been an additional mathematics teacher for over 30 years, said she was up by 5.30am for her morning prayers before leaving home to fulfil her voting obligation.
She came with her son, 24-year-old Izmeer, who said he was voting for the first time.
While Maryam said she was very excited to vote, Izmeer did not seem as excited about the whole process of choosing the next assemblyman for the Perling seat.
“I just feel normal,” he said when asked about his thoughts on being a first-time voter.
Maryam said they decided to come early to SK Taman Sutera to avoid any potential crowds and to cast their ballots as soon as possible.
She hoped that the next state government would be able to allocate more funds for the education sector in order to improve the facilities and standard of education in Johor.
Retiree Tan Sin Yeong said two of his children had driven back from Kuala Lumpur yesterday and would be casting their votes, though he was more reluctant about voting.
“To be honest, I didn’t feel like voting. They (politicians) are all the same, they just think of themselves.
“But frankly speaking, we have to vote for the opposition. That’s my opinion,” the Perling voter said, adding that he only decided to line up to vote while on his morning walk after noticing there was a short queue.
Tan added that the queue of people was much longer for the last general election (GE14), with the lines of voters snaking around the school at this early hour.
Meanwhile, another first-time voter who asked not to be named said she was only going to vote as her father had been encouraging her to do so.
The 28-year-old hairstylist said she was out early to vote as she had to go to work later. She added that it did not really matter to her which party won the state elections.
Voters in Kempas
While polling day started a bit slow at SK Taman Bukit Kempas with only a small crowd lined up outside the school, things started to pick up soon afterwards with voters seen coming in pairs or in groups.
One of the voters, wanting to be known as Tan, hoped that the candidate who wins the seat could bring change to Kempas.
“Now that we’re done with the state elections, I’m looking forward and excited for the general elections,” he told FMT.
First-time voter, Haizad, said the polling process was smooth and easy with many Election Commission (EC) staff on hand to help voters.
“I was nervous because this is my first time voting and I was afraid I might make a mistake. However, there was nothing to worry about. It was easy.”