KUCHING: Despite the gloomy weather, many senior citizens made a beeline for voting centres to make their voices heard.

       Among those who lined up as early as 7am was 70-year-old Teoh Poh Teik, who voted at SJK(C) Stampin for the Batu Kawah seat.He said he came to perform his duty as “every vote counts”.

       “I believe my vote matters because the outcome of the state election will determine the future of Sarawak,” he added.

       Soon after the gates at the polling centre opened, Teoh eagerly walked in to cast his ballot.

       Retiree Yeoh Kim Tiong, who was met outside the SMK Kuching High polling centre for the Padungan seat, said he rarely missed the opportunity to vote.

       “Only once or twice when I was working overseas,” he said.

       Yeoh praised the Election Commission (EC) for ensuring a smooth voting process.

       “It was very efficient,” he added.

       Ramlee Abidin, a 70-year-old pensioner in Satok, said voting was a sacred right of the people.

       “That’s what I told my children,” he added.

       Ramlee, who was accompanied by his son at the Satok Sports Complex, said he wanted a strong and stable state government to ensure the economic recovery was on the right track.

       In Bintulu, Kederi Junaidi, a 75-year-old community leader from Kampong Datu, said he was happy to be able to fulfil his responsibility.

       Having voted at the SK Bintulu polling centre for the Jepak constituency, he praised the EC for being helpful to senior citizens.

       According to EC figures, there are 197,334 registered voters in Sarawak aged between 60 and 69, 93,533 voters aged 70 to 79, 31,062 (80 to 89) and 10,198 (90 and above).