JOHOR BARU: Young voters, who form a huge segment of the electorate in the two by-elections in Johor, hope that elected leaders will look into their welfare and issues in the constituencies.
While some just found out about the by-elections, others have already started monitoring the candidates via social media. They even plan to attend ceramah to find out what the candidates can offer in Pulai and Simpang Jeram.
Nupasriulan Selamat, 29, hoped that they would address problems such as traffic congestion along Jalan Tebrau and making sure roads were pothole free.
“I did not know there is a by-election in Pulai until I was in town to meet a friend who was heading to the nomination centre in Jalan Ayer Molek on Saturday.”
Since then, she said she has been keeping tabs on the three contenders.
The Pulai parliamentary seat is contested by Suhaizan Kaiat from Pakatan Harapan, Zulkifli Jaafar (Perikatan Nasional) and independent candidate Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi.
Nupasriulan. who works as a clerk, said the state government should find ways to ease the congestion at the city centre area as the present construction of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) was causing massive jams especially at night and weekends.
She spoke of having to go through a traffic snarl almost daily near the Johor check-point along Jalan Tebrau.
Undergraduate Lim San Shien, 22, said he was excited to be casting his vote for the third time after having done twice last year – the state polls in March and general election in November.
And like many of his friends, Lim said he was following the candidates on social media.
“I also hope to observe them during their walkabouts,” he said.
As for his expectations, he hoped the government would expand on initiatives such as the Menu Rahmah and Jualan Rahmah.
Lim, who is studying to be a lawyer and will be voting in Pulai, said that he had opted for Menu Rahmah many times at fast-food outlets
“The government should also focus on creating more jobs especially in the gig economy for young people,” he said, adding that skills and re-skilling programmes were also important.
General worker T. Sivamoorthyrao, 25, who will be voting for the first time, said that places like Jalan Anggerik in Pulai need to be resurfaced as it was riddled with potholes.
“I also hope the government will restart the bus services which was stopped four years ago in the area.
“Now people have to walk almost 20 minutes to take a bus to work in Singapore daily,” he said, adding that many of the residents in Pulai work in Singapore.
As for the Simpang Jeram state seat, it will be a three-cornered fight between Perikatan’s Dr Mohd Mazri Yahya, Nazri Abdul Rahman (Pakatan) and independent candidate S. Jeganathan.
Simpang Jeram voter Nur Afiqah Othman, 20, said she found out about the by-election from her neighbour a few days ago.
“Now that I know about it, I will make sure my vote counts,” she said.
“I hope that whoever wins the election will be able to provide more job opportunities here as I find it difficult to get one.
“I am planning to go to Kuala Lumpur to live with my siblings and look for a job there.
“At the moment, I am helping my mother out at her shop,” she said.
Student Jorin Tok Guan Ling, 18, said she heard about the by-election from her parents.
“They reminded me to cast my vote. This is the first time I will be voting and I am both excited and nervous.”
Her choice of party, she said, would be similar to that of her parents.
However, she said she would find out more about other candidates as well.
“I hope the soon-to-be assemblyman will be able to provide more facilities for recreational activities so that youngsters here have more activities to do.”
