Tasty reward: Chong’s bakery in Kluang is offering a 10% discount to voters who show their inked finger. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
KLUANG: Local businesses are offering attractive deals to encourage voters to exercise their rights on by-election day.
Bakery owner Penny Choong, 50, said voters who walk into her shop today will be able to enjoy a 10% discount just by showing their inked finger.
“I am running this bakery with my son, and we have decided to offer customers the discount as a way to motivate the people of Mahkota to come out and vote.
“We also offered a similar discount during previous elections, including the Johor election in March 2022 and the 15th General Election in November that same year,” she said in an interview.
Choong said her daughter, who had opened a cafe in Kluang, would be giving her customers a free drink upon the purchase of a dish.
“They just have to show the ink on their finger, indicating that they have voted,” she said.
Ng Boon Ue, 46, who runs a stall selling dumplings at the Kluang bus terminal, said he would give customers the freebies tomorrow.
“I will be busy on election day as I am volunteering as a polling and counting agent.
“As such, I will only be able to open my stall and give customers the free offerings tomorrow,” he said.
Ng added that customers will be able to enjoy a set of dumplings when they spend at least RM15 at his shop.
“This is my way of encouraging the people of Mahkota, especially the Chinese community, to vote in the election,” he said.
Meanwhile, Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia Johor liaison chairman for Kluang district Zolkefli Mohd Noor said he hopes to see more businesses offering discounts.
“This is a good and simple way for businesses to do their bit for the community.
“It is a very welcomed initiative and I hope to see more businesses follow suit. For now, I have yet to hear of such offerings from my members, but I encourage it,” he said.
Businesses in Kluang are also expecting to see a large crowd today as outstation voters return home to vote.
The chief executive director of a popular coffee shop and factory here, Goh Yong Kian, said his company would have more people on duty this weekend to cope with the large crowd.
“We normally experience busy days when there is an election going on, and I believe it will be the same this time.
“So, we will need to have more people working this weekend to ensure smooth service for our customers,” he said.
N. Surenthran, 42, who runs a shop selling flowers, said he expects to see an influx of people visiting his shop this weekend.
“Normally, when people living outside of Kluang return, particularly Hindus, they will hold prayers with their family members.
“Some may also be attending family gatherings during their visit here. So I believe I will have a busy weekend as they would need flowers for such occasions,” he said.
The Mahkota state seat became vacant when its assemblyman, Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain from Umno, passed away on Aug 2, three days after she was hospitalised.
Sharifah Azizah won the seat in the March 2022 Johor state election by a 5,166-majority, beating three other candidates from Perikatan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan and Parti Warisan.
