This is the day they have been waiting for

HULU TERENGGANU: Polling day in the coming general election will be a highly memorable one for Maino Zaileena Mohd Nor, as it will be the first time she casts a vote to determine the country’s future.

This is the moment the quality inspector has been waiting for since turning 21 two years ago and heading directly to the Kuala Berang post office to register as a voter.

“I knew I had to do this. It helped that my mother reminded me about my responsibility,” she said.

Maino said she had already made up her mind about her choice – between ruling coalition Barisan Nasional and the Opposition – following a traumatic time in her childhood nearly 20 years ago.

She also noted the changes in Kuala Berang since then.

“We used to get our essentials from sundry shops, but now there are better shops and amenities,” she added.

Ain Syafiqah Shamsuddin also wasted no time registering as a voter the moment she came of age.

Ain Syafiqah, who holds a diploma in food technology, headed to the Kuala Berang post office on her 21st birthday in December.

“I wanted to make sure I could carry out my responsibility as a Malaysian citizen to vote,” she said.

“I’ve heard that things can get dramatic but I hope everything will be peaceful.”