Hectic day for factory operator working in Singapore
PONTIAN: It was a hectic day for factory operator G. Saraswati who had to travel back and forth between Johor and Singapore to vote in GE15.
The 43-year-old said she left the island republic as soon as she finished her shift at 6am yesterday.
“I got into a chartered van right after I was done with work. The driver dropped me at Tampoi where my car was parked.
“I then rushed back to Pekan Nanas to cast my vote. It was very tiring but it was not a big deal for me as this is my responsibility,” she said, adding that she reached Pekan Nanas at about noon.
The mother of five must make her way back to Singapore by 3pm as she has to work the next day.
“Right after I am done with voting, I will have lunch with my family, pray and get ready to make my way back to Singapore.
“I cannot afford to stay here any longer as I need be at work by 6am,” said Saraswati, who was among thousands of voters at the SK Pengkalan Raja polling centre in Pekan Nanas.
She turned up at the polling centre with her six siblings, including her sister, a first-time voter, her two children and her 59-year-old mother.
“For us, voting is a must. In fact, my mother would be upset if we say we don’t want to go out to vote. She always reminds us that it is our responsibility as a citizen to do so,” she said.
Also casting their ballots were 21-year-old twins Nursyakirahrin and Nursyahidah Baharin.
“We have taken some time to listen to ceramah – both physical and online – as well as carried out other research before deciding on who to vote for. Although this is the second time we are voting, it is still pretty exciting,” said Nursyakirah, adding that they had cast their ballots for the first time during the Johor state election in March.
At the SJK(C) Yu Ming polling centre, factory worker Gan Lai Heng, 56, was among those who did not let the heavy downpour stop them from voting.
“I used to live in Pekan Nanas but about 10 years ago I moved to Johor Baru. I am still a registered voter in this constituency.
“I left my house in Perling at 6am as I was worried that the heavy rain might cause traffic congestion.
“I managed to have breakfast at my favourite coffee shop here and even met some of my old friends before voting,” he said.