Malaysians working in Singapore cast ballots despite downpour

Heavy downpour didn’t stop a 57-year-old Malaysian voter working for the past ten years in Singapore from fulfilling his responsibilities.

C. Tamil, an engineer at a steel factory in the city-state, braved rain and rushed to the SMK Taman Bukit Indah polling station in Johor Bahru on Saturday to vote for the Pulai Parliamentary.

He had to start working at 2 pm. “I finished voting at 9 this morning. I didn’t expect it to rain heavily, and I forgot to bring my raincoat along,” the voter said.

He called voting an “obligation”, adding he got ready early in the morning as he usually works overtime on Saturdays and Sundays and went to cast his ballot paper first.

The resident of Taman Nusa Bestari and a father of two said he has long been commuting to Singapore by riding a motorcycle.

He hoped the elected representatives would be able to address the trust and responsibility given to them by the voters, the Malaysian told the Bernama news agency.

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Meanwhile, Tan Hui Huan, who works as a financial officer at a private company in the republic, said she had no problem voting today as Saturdays and Sundays were her days off.

“I have never missed voting,” the 45-year-old said, adding she had to bring her mother along to vote despite the rain. “Luckily, the Election Commission staff helped and escorted us inside.”

The voter – also a mother of four – expressed hope the elected representatives would help improve the community’s economic situation.

Na Ah Moy is 70 years old and in a wheelchair, as her left leg was amputated last year due to diabetes. But she didn’t miss the opportunity to vote.

“I have never missed voting,” said Na, adding she was determined to walk to the polling station in the next election with the help of a walking device.

Earlier, a Bernama survey found there was a steady turnout of voters at the largest polling station in the Pulai Parliament despite heavy rain, with the EC staff escorting voters inside.