Stepping up to boost voter turnout

Malaysians come together to offer help and cash for others to cast ballots

PETALING JAYA: The 14th General Election has united Malaysians through kindness with individuals going the extra mile to encourage voters to cast their vote.

Even though Adhura Husna is not eligible to vote on May 9, she wanted to do her part to help ease the burden of young voters making their way home to vote.

Adhura, who is an economics student in International Islamic University Malaysia Kuantan, tweeted a message, offering to help with travel expenses such as bus tickets, toll and fuel for those returning home.

“I have set aside RM200 from my own savings, and I am willing to pitch in more. What matters is that Malaysians who can vote, do,” said the 19-year-old.

Adhura’s kind gesture snowballed with more of her friends and Twitter users joining in to donate to voters who needed help.

Her friend Ahmad Abi Shifa, who is studying in London, contributed his allowances and pooled resources from his family and friends.

“Malaysians from all walks of life, from different races and ideologies are coming together. This makes me extremely proud to be a Malaysian,” said Ahmad, 18.

Adhura and Ahmad, along with other donors, managed to help 41 voters with their travel expenses.

“Both of us are non-partisan and we do not put any requirements to receive the funds.

“They just have to go back and vote,” said Adhura.

One such recipient is university student Nur Izzati Abd Aziz.

She will be returning to her hometown in Dungun, Terengganu, to vote for the first time.

Currently, Nur Izzati, 23, is undergoing an internship in Putrajaya while doing her Bachelor of Science Statistics degree.

“Since I still need to manage my finances, I hesitated to go back home to vote,” said Nur Izzati.

So she tried her luck by turning to Twitter with the hashtag #PulangMengundi.

“A woman, whom I have never met or spoken to sponsored my return trip and even gave me some extra money for meals and taxi fare,” she said excitedly.

Hilda Paviter, 23, who is pursuing her Anthropology and Sociology degree in Kota Kinabalu, was “overwhelmed” when strangers came forward to sponsor her flight.

“It was all covered by them (sponsors) including a bus ticket back to Ipoh,” she said.

Meanwhile, businesses are also offering extra days off for employ- ees who have to travel outstation to cast their vote.

With May 9 declared as a public holiday, Speedrent, a property rental platform, said they would give their employees an additional day off.

Its marketing officer Tania Basu said the company would also cover their travel expenses outstation.

Restaurants Opus, Cava, Leonardos, Bobo and Lucky Bo on Jalan Bangkung in Bangsar will be closed on May 9 to allow staff to vote.

Owner of the restaurants Ed Soo said he would be giving his staff, those registered to vote outstation, an additional day off.

“We think it is every citizen’s responsibility to vote,” said Soo.