Soldier voting 13 days after giving birth
KOTA BARU: A soldier, 13 days into her confinement period, was among 1,724 armed forces personnel and their spouses who cast their votes at the Eighth Brigade Camp in Pengkalan Chepa here yesterday.
Corporal Nurul Mas Hidayu Zakaria, 26, who gave birth to her second child on April 23, arrived at the camp with her husband, Corporal Mohd Norhisham Zakaria, 31, about 9am.
She said even thought she was in her confinement period, she was determined to exercise her rights as a citizen.
“It’s the first time I’m voting. I do not want to miss this opportunity,” Nurul, who lives in Bachok, said.
Siti Sarah Syazwani Mohamad Alwi, 27, who also gave birth recently, arrived at the polling centre with her husband, Mohamad Juhar Che Razali, 34, and their 56-day-old infant.
“General elections only take place only once every five years. It will be a waste if I don’t vote.”
Earlier, Eighth Brigade chief Brigadier-General Datuk Nazari Abd Hadi arrived at 8.50am to cast his vote.
Apart from the Eighth Brigade Camp, that other polling centres operating from 8am to 5pm yesterday were the Desa Pahlawan Camp in Kok Lanas, Batu 11 Camp in Tanah Merah, Batu Melintang Camp in Jeli, Machang Camp in Machang and the Rantau Panjang police station.
Voter turnout, as at 10am, was 14.02 per cent, or 1,887 out of 13,457 early voters in the state, according to the Election Commission.