Many young voters said they were looking beyond party labels in favour of candidates with integrity, commitment and a proven track record.
JOHOR BAHRU: “I want an elected representative who keeps their promises and gets the job done.”
That was the common sentiment among first-time voters casting their ballots in the 16th Johor State Election today, as many young voters said they were looking beyond party labels in favour of candidates with integrity, commitment and a proven track record.
Agriculture diploma student Ahmad Irfan Harith Ahmad Izwan, 19, said a strong sense of civic responsibility prompted him to arrive early at the polling station to avoid traffic congestion.
The Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Sarawak student said he did not want to miss the opportunity to vote and had carefully assessed the candidates’ performance throughout the campaign period.
“I want an elected representative who can improve the lives of residents, keep their promises and deliver tangible results. During the campaign, I saw candidates who demonstrated those qualities,” he told Bernama at the Sekolah Menengah Kerbangsaan (SMK) Bandar Baru Uda polling centre for the Larkin state constituency.
Meanwhile, Jolin Tan Pei En, 20, said party affiliation is no longer the main consideration for many young voters, stressing that dedication and integrity in serving the people are far more important.
“Regardless of the party, what matters is that the leader is hardworking, committed, and genuinely serves the people,” said the online clothing entrepreneur after casting her vote at SMK Taman Molek for the Johor Jaya state constituency.
Sharing a similar sentiment, Filzah Maisara Mohd Fuad, 19, described her first voting experience as both exciting and meaningful after casting her ballot at the polling centre at Taman Setia Indah Religious School.
The Culinary Diploma student at Kolej Universiti Yayasan Pelajaran Johor said she was thrilled to see her name on the electoral roll for the first time.
“I feel excited and hopeful. I hope the leader I voted for is trustworthy, sincere in serving the people and capable of driving Johor’s continued progress,” said the Puteri Wangsa voter.
A total of 1,076 polling centres, comprising 4,889 voting streams, opened simultaneously at 8 am today, allowing Johoreans to elect representatives for the state’s 56 seats in the State Legislative Assembly.
Polling, involving more than 2.6 million registered voters, is scheduled to continue until 6 pm following the end of the 14-day campaign period at midnight.
