A citizen’s right: Zakri and Tan (right) both agree that it’s important to exercise the right to vote.

       MELAKA: For Muhammad Zakri Chan Abdullah, the upcoming Melaka state polls is equally important as the general election and he would not want to miss it.

       The 39-year-old from Durian Tunggal said it was the Melakans’ job to determine the line-up of the state’s future leaders.

       “No matter what happens, I think we should not feel reluctant to vote. It is our responsibility as citizens.

       “Although there have been incidents of leaders switching parties, we should still fulfil our responsibilities, knowing all the consequences,” said Zakri, who is a civil servant.

       “We need a stable and strong state government that can bring good change and development for the benefit of the people,” he said.

       He, however, admitted there was little the people could do as long as there was no anti-hopping law.

       “I think some leaders will still switch parties. However, we should realise that frequent government changes and the party-hopping culture are not good for us nor the economy.

       “That’s why it is even more important for us to have our say through our votes,” he said.

       Undergraduate Caroline Tan said she felt disappointed at not being able to make it to register to vote in time.

       “The state polls came all of a sudden while we are still fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, so it’s a little let-down for me that I cannot have my first taste of voting this time,” said the 22-year-old, who is also from Durian Tunggal.

       Tan said that many of her friends and family had mixed views when they realised she could not vote this round.

       “Some said they were not keen to go out to vote because it did not make any difference, as any elected representative can still switch parties.

       “Some also said they were concerned about the pandemic. Although most of us have been vaccinated, we could still get infected, and it’s not worth the risk.

       “But I think we should still cast our votes because it is our duty as citizens, and voting is an experience that should be cherished,” she said, adding that she will make sure she won’t miss the 15th General Election.

       Engineer Colin Lye, 46, who is working in Singapore, said he has registered as a postal voter.

       “Of course, I want to cast my vote. Distance is not a problem, as long as there are ways to facilitate it.

       “My vote is my say and my right as a citizen. What happens after the election is another problem to tackle,” he said, adding it is best to have laws in place to stop the party-hopping culture.

       A retiree who only wants to be known as Mr Sammy said he is not keen to vote after seeing how Melaka “fell” after the people’s mandate in the last general election was “shoved into the dustbin”.

       “I’m 70 now, and I have never failed to cast my vote.

       “But after seeing what happened in recent years, it doesn’t make any difference anymore,” he said, adding that nothing is going to change as long as there are no laws in place to deal with party hopping.