Muar voters turn out despite Covid-19 fears

Voters in the town of Muar have been turning out to vote since early this morning despite concerns over the latest wave of Covid-19 infections.

Some arrived as early as 7.30am in order to cast their ballots in the Johor state election today.

Among them was Tan Wee Ann, who is registered to vote in the Maharani constituency.

She said voting was not a difficult task and would not take a long time.

“It’s just putting a piece of paper into the box,” she said when met at the polling centre in SMK Sri Muar.

Tan, who is 50 years old, works as a cook.

When asked about Covid-19 concerns, she said she was not afraid as she had already received two doses of vaccine as well as a booster shot.

Another voter, J Prema, said she had travelled from Johor Bahru the day before in order to cast her vote.

“I came with my husband,” the 60-year-old said, adding that her children are registered to vote in Johor Bahru.

“We came early because we want to return to Johor Bahru as quickly as possible, as we are helping a candidate there.”

Like Tan, Prema said she was confident that the booster dose she had received would help protect her from the adverse effects of Covid-19.

The Maharani state constituency, which falls under the Muar federal seat, is witnessing a six-way fight among Perikatan Nasional candidate Abd Aziz Talib, Pakatan Harapan’s Nor Hayati Bachok, Nor Farra Shamsudin of Barisan Nasional, Riad Ahmad of Pejuang, Parti Bangsa Malaysia candidate Ahmad Hasni Asmui Md Salleh and independent Lim Kin Joo.

Incumbent Nor Hayati had won the seat with a 5,674-vote majority, defeating BN’s Ashari Md Sarip and Mohammad Taslim of PAS.

PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin is expected to cast his vote at the school later today.