Mahkota polls: PwD voters demonstrate determination and duty

KLUANG - Amid the vibrant atmosphere of the Mahkota by-election, two Persons with Disabilities (PwD) voters exemplified resilience and civic duty.

Rosaiza Hussein, 50, from Taman Kiara Emas and Zuriah Saat, 60, from Taman Suria, made their way to the polls, highlighting the importance of participation in the democratic process.

Rosaiza, who suffered a stroke last year, expressed her determination to vote despite her ongoing health challenges.

“I may not feel well, but this election is too important to miss. I’m expecting better days ahead; it’s what we need in our community,” she shared.

Meanwhile, Zuriah, who was accompanied by her husband, reflected on her long voting history.

“I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve voted. Every vote counts and being here feels like a step toward making a difference,” she said.

Both cast their vote at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Seri Perdana.

The by-election witnessed a straight fight between Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah and Perikatan Nasional (PN) Mohamad Haizan Jaafar.

Both are registered voters in the constituency.

There are 66,318 registered voters for the Mahkota State Assembly with early voting for military personnel and spouses and the police taking place last Tuesday, involving 4,437 voters.

The Election Commission (EC) has also issued 607 postal ballot papers on Sept 15, in addition to appointing 1,126 officers to handle the by-election process.

The Mahkota state by-election was held following the death of its incumbent Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, 63, last Aug 2.

Sharifah Azizah, of BN won the seat in the 2022 state election with a majority of 5,166 votes in a four-cornered fight involving Pakatan Harapan (PH), PN and Warisan.

The Mahkota state seat was first contested in 2004 and has gone through five general elections with BN winning four of them