SIBU: A two-hour downpour at the onset of polling here did not dampen voter enthusiasm or their determination to exercise their rights.

       Retiree Ling Ping Sing said his son was driving him from their home in Jalan Ulu Lanang to the voting station at SJK (C) Chung Hua when it suddenly started raining cats and dogs.

       “We were already halfway to the voting station, but I asked my son to turn back,” he said.

       When the rain eased up two hours later, Ling was again chauffeured by his son to the voting station.

       “Rain or shine, I have always exercised my right to vote,” he said.

       Ting Suk Hee, 54, was among the early birds to cast her vote at SJK Guong Ann at 7.50am.

       Though the rain was an inconvenience, she nevertheless had her heart set on casting her vote.

       “Voting on a rainy day causes great inconvenience to voters because they usually need to park their cars far away from the polling station.

       “Still, I made it to the polling station slightly wet but fine,” she added.

       Sales executive Jessica Chuo, 49, said the bad weather was not a hindrance for her to vote.

       “I did not wait for the rain to stop before coming here to vote as the future of the next generation is more important to me,” she said after casting her vote at SJK (C) Chung Hua.

       Election Commission returning officer for Bawang Assan seat Suhaili Mohamed was equally surprised that the heavy rain did not deter the people from making their way to SJK (C) Chung Hua, which had 4,900 voters.

       “The heavy rain started at exactly 7.30am when voting started. The turnout was good,” he said.