On the ground: Ticket sales for buses from Singapore to the Kluang bus terminal have been strong, with only a few seats left for each trip. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
JOHOR BARU: Preparations have been made at both the border crossings here to ensure that Mahkota voters staying in Singapore will have a smooth journey back to Kluang to cast their ballots in the by-election this Saturday, says Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
He said he has informed the Immigration and Customs departments to ensure that there will be no serious traffic congestion tomorrow and Saturday.
“Much has been done by the state and federal governments to tackle the traffic congestion at the border crossings, which is being experienced by some 300,000 Malaysians who travel to and from Singapore for work daily,” he added.
He had earlier said that buses and Immigration officers have been added at the counters and infrastructure and border clearance systems have been upgraded.
“More is being done at the Causeway and Second Link for the comfort of the people,” he said in a social media post which showed him standing at the Causeway in Johor Baru.
Onn Hafiz said that he was not at the Causeway for a spot check but to appeal to outstation voters to return to vote in the Mahkota by-election.
He has been actively conducting spot checks at the two border checkpoints that connect Johor and Singapore and is also vocal about the changes that needed to take place to improve the traffic situation at the facilities.
He has also been making repeated calls for outstation voters to return to Mahkota to vote in the by-election to support his vision for a developed and advanced Johor.
Meanwhile in Kluang, Perikatan Nasional’s by-election director Datuk Seri Azmin Ali claimed a “relatively low turnout” is to be expected in the by-election.
“For outstation Chinese voters, they have already returned to their hometowns last weekend for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
“The question is, will they be spending extra money on travelling costs and toll fare to return to Mahkota again this weekend just to cast a vote for Umno?” he asked, referring to Barisan Nasional candidate Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah.
Mahkota voters will go to the polls to choose an assemblyman this Saturday after its incumbent Datuk Sharifah Syed Zain, 63, passed away on Aug 2.
The state seat will see a straight fight between Syed Hussien, 40, and Perikatan candidate Mohamad Haizan Jaafar, 61.
