Johor bahru: Johor DAP chairman Teo Nie Ching has urged Johor voters, particularly those living outside the state or overseas, to exercise their democratic right by returning home to vote in the Johor state election this Saturday.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Teo, who is also Deputy Communications Minister, pointed to the determination shown by Malaysians living abroad, who were willing to sacrifice both time and money to ensure their votes reached home, as an inspiration to local voters. She shared several stories, including that of a voter in Queensland, Australia, who sought someone at the airport to hand-carry his postal ballot back to Malaysia due to courier service limitations. Another example involved a master's student in China who changed a flight at an additional cost to return home to vote, while a voter in the United States sought a Malaysian citizen to witness the postal voting process.
Teo expressed her hope that voters working in Kuala Lumpur or Singapore would also value their voting rights and participate on July 11. She conveyed this message while speaking to reporters after meeting residents of Kampung Baru Skudai alongside Kartiyaini Jeyapalan, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Skudai state seat.
Teo also cautioned the public against fake news and misleading social media accounts created to confuse voters as the election campaign draws to a close. She emphasized the need for digital literacy and urged the public to verify information before sharing it to prevent the spread of false information.
Meanwhile, Kartiyaini Jeyapalan stated that the PH election machinery is intensifying efforts to encourage Johor voters working in Singapore to come home to vote. The campaign aims not only to boost voter turnout but also to highlight the significance of the state election in shaping Johor's future development. She stressed that a proactive state government is crucial for implementing necessary policies for the people of Johor.
As part of the campaign, Kartiyaini and other PH leaders engaged with cross-border workers at the Sultan Iskandar Building Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex early in the morning to remind them of polling day. They also boarded buses headed to Singapore to encourage workers to return home to vote, noting positive responses that they hope will translate into voter turnout.
A total of 2.7 million registered voters are anticipated to participate in the 16th Johor state election this Saturday to elect 56 state assembly representatives for the upcoming term.