KKB polls: Senior couple travels nearly 200km to cast ballots

HULU SELANGOR - A couple in their 60s travelled for nearly 200 kilometres (km) today from Kuala Kangsar, Perak, to fulfil their responsibilities as voters for the Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election.

Private sector retiree Abdul Rahim Bidin, 67, and his wife, Noraini Mansor, 65, started their journey as early as 5am and the journey took them more than two hours to reach the polling station.

"After voting I will drive home... we came down here because voting is our responsibility. I would drive back and forth to vote in every election and we have been doing it for the past 10 years,” he said when met by reporters at the Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Khing Ming voting centre here today.

Rahim, came to the polling station using a cane, and Noraini, cast their ballot papers at the same polling station.

Meanwhile, another voter, Rodznah Bakar, 61, did not want to miss the opportunity to fulfil her responsibilities and came with her husband to the polling centre as early as 7 am despite suffering from pain in her legs and having to use a wheelchair.

Rodznah cast her vote at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Kuala Kubu Baharu.

"My husband and I went out as early as 7 this morning even though the location of the polling station is close to the house in Taman Pesara. We booked a rental car last night to take us to the polling station since my husband and I can’t drive ourselves.

"I would like to thank the Election Commission (EC) staff who helped make it easier for us to vote today,” she said.

Meanwhile, according to the EC, the turnout for the by-election was 18.05 per cent as of 10 this morning and the voting process took place in good weather conditions.

Today's by-election sees a four-cornered clash between Pang Sock Tao (Pakatan Harapan), Khairul Azhari Saut (Perikatan Nasional), Hafizah Zainuddin (Parti Rakyat Malaysia) and Nyau Ke Xin (Independent), and it is being held following the death of the incumbent Lee Kee Hiong, 58, on March 21 due to cancer.

A total of 39,269 voters are eligible to cast their ballots today. - BERNAMA