Malaysians in China look forward to voting

BEIJING: Malaysians in China have been keenly following developments on the 14th General Election and are all set to exercise their rights as voters, be it by postal ballot or flying all the way home.

The general election has been one of the most talked-about topics among Malaysians residing here, who have monitored news related to the polls since last year.

The Election Commission’s (EC) announcement of the new postal voting system early this year and the link to the online application form were quickly shared on various WeChat group chats by Malaysians urging their countrymen to register as voters.

The Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China also helped to spread the word.

Some booked their flights home as soon as the EC announced the polling date.

One such returning voter is Sam Lau, who has already bought his air ticket back to Miri, Sarawak.

“Returning home is a triple joy for me. While performing my duty as a citizen, I can also visit my family and indulge in my favourite food,” said Lau, an engineer.

Paul Rummy, 33, was excited to be able to cast his vote overseas for the first time.

“I wanted to go home but it was too costly. Now, I’m eagerly waiting for the arrival of my ballot paper,” said the PhD candidate at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Paleoanthropology.

He hoped the elected government would bring new development, improve the people’s livelihood and make the nation strong.

New voter Muhammad Ikhwan Yahaya grabbed the chance to register as a postal voter.

The 23-year-old student, who is enrolled in the Teaching Chinese as a Second Language programme at the Beijing Language and Culture University, is eagerly awaiting polling day.

“Finally, I get a chance to fulfil my responsibility; this will be a new experience in my life,” he said.