JOHOR BARU: Outstation voters are making their way back to Johor to cast their votes for the state election which is just two days away.

       Corporate communications trainee G. Thivia, 27, is driving back from Selangor today to cast her vote for the Puteri Wangsa seat.

       “I missed out on the chance to vote in the last general election as I was not a registered voter then.

       “However, I’m now automatically registered as a voter and I will not let this go to waste, especially since our voices are important in deciding the future of the state,” she said in an interview.

       Thivia said although she has watched various ceramah and read the manifestos from the political parties through social media, these will not influence her choice.

       “I have seen the promotions by the parties throughout the campaigning period, but they will not really influence me,” she said.

       “I will look at other aspects before deciding on the candidates to vote for.”

       University student Ismail Fahmi Jamaluddin, 24, said he will be taking the bus from Kuala Lumpur to Johor tomorrow to cast his vote for the first time.

       “I was supposed to take the bus with my friend but unfortunately he tested positive for Covid-19 and have to be quarantined.

       “I don’t mind forking the extra money to go home for this election as I know how important it is for our future,” he said, adding that he is excited to vote.

       Ismail will be casting his vote for the Perling seat with his family.

       “I have not looked at the manifestos the parties are offering but I will do so in the next few days before I vote,” he said.

       “However, I don’t feel that the manifesto or promise they made during their ceramah is important. The track record of the parties contesting is more important to me.”

       Another voter, Felicia Ngoi, has planned to return from Singapore to vote but had to cancel it at the last minute after testing positive for Covid-19.

       Ngoi, 32, who works as a retail representative in Singapore, said she was initially excited to return to Johor Baru from March 2 until March 12 after she managed to grab the coveted VTL-land bus tickets.

       “I was also hoping to meet my parents and relatives after being apart for two years due to Covid-19, and also to cast my vote,” she added.

       Ngoi had made plans of going early to the polling centre in the Puteri Wangsa constituency to vote before having breakfast and going to the bus station with her husband to re-enter Singapore.

       “About three days before my trip, I tested positive for Covid-19 and a few days later, my husband did, too, so we were forced to forgo our trip,” she said.