Wei Hoong, a 33-year-old with Down Syndrome, was at the polling centre with his two younger sisters at 9am, determined to vote.
According to his sister, who only wanted to be known as Lim, Wei Hoong had been looking forward to casting his ballot since yesterday.
“For days, he has been asking us where the polling centre is, what time we have to be there, and today he woke up extra early.
“We didn’t have to teach him anything or remind him of the symbols. He is well aware of the process as this is his second time, and he knows who he is going to vote for,” she told Bernama.
Asked how he felt being part of the election process, Wei Hoong said: “I am very happy.”
Equally thrilled to be voting today was another Down Syndrome person in Kuala Terengganu, Rubee Nur Amirah, 30.
Met at SK Pusat Cabang Tiga in Kuala Terengganu, Rubee said she could not wait to show off her inked finger to her teachers in school.
According to her mother, Rabiah Ismail, 60, although Rubee does not know what the election is all about, she had expressed her desire to vote and was ready to go from early in the morning.
“We encouraged her to go ahead. It doesn’t matter who she votes for, at least she knows voting is important,“ said Rabiah.
Rubee, who was voting for the second time, cast her vote in Wakaf Mempelam for the state seat and the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election.
In Kedah, visually impaired couple Roseri Ismail, 52, and his wife, Rohana Abdul Manaf, 50, were among the voters waiting in line at SK Seri Dusun, Sik.
Roseri and Rohana, who live in Kampung Namek Tua, arrived at the school at 9.45am with the help of a friend, Dahari Ahmad, 72, who also voted in Belantek .
“Every time there is an election, my wife and I will make it a point to exercise our voting right,“ said Roseri, who was born blind.
Rohana said they chose to come out early to avoid the crowd and possibility of rain later in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, in Kelantan, physically disabled Saiful Fahmi Yaakub, 36, was at the polling centre at SK Islah at 9.30am, accompanied by his father, Yaakub Harun, 63, brother Adli, 39, and sister Siti Khadijah Farhana, 33.
Yaakub said Saiful, who could only crawl, had never missed the opportunity to cast his vote despite having to depend on three people to help get him in and out of a car.
“Whenever he is asked if he would like to vote, he would nod incessantly and give a wide grin.
“Thankfully, the voting process for people with disabilities is smooth and well facilitated. Within five minutes, everything was over,” Yaakub said.
Also at SK Islah were Normazni Sharipudin, 40, who is deaf and mute, and her husband, who has a hearing impairment.
Normazni said she had to use sign language to communicate with the EC officers, but this has not been a problem for her to fulfil her civic duty.
“I am all-out to vote for a leader who is trustworthy and cares for the welfare of the people, especially those like me. I urge all those with disabilities to come out to vote as every vote counts.
“I hope the results of the polls today will bring changes in Kelantan,“ she told reporters via WhatsApp.