KLANG: The sight of a bride wearing a striking two-piece kua, a traditional Chinese wedding dress, added colour to the voting process at SAMT Sultan Hisamuddin polling centre.
Bride Bailey Chong Jia Yee and her groom, Chong Elun, both 27, had just finished their wedding ritual, including the customary tea ceremony, before they arrived at the polling centre.
This was to allow Elun, who was clad in a black coat, to cast his vote for the Klang parliamentary seat before leaving for Bailey's hometown in Banting, so she could cast her ballot for the Kuala Langat parliamentary seat.
The newlyweds who co-own a pet shop in Bandar Botanik said they had skipped several Chinese traditional wedding rituals to allow their family and friends to go out and vote.
The secondary school sweethearts said they decided to go ahead with the wedding as they had already planned ahead in March this year.
To postpone it because of the 15th General Election meant they can only hold the ceremony next year, added Elun.
"We began the ceremony earlier at 7am with the tradition of picking up the bride from her parents' house in Banting to mine, in Klang, as well as the gate crashing games.
"My wife also told her bridesmaids to not put up too many "challenges" for the gate crashing games to save time.
"We also sped up the tea ceremony with our parents and relatives. I know they are celebrating us but it is equally important that they head out to the polls today.
"That is why we concluded the entire wedding ceremony by 11.30am, so they can have the rest of the afternoon free to exercise their rights as responsible citizens," said Elun.
Meanwhile, an Election Commission volunteer who wanted to be known only as Hizrul said there was an excitement in the air when the couple arrived.
"I have been on duty at this same school for the 14th General Election and the Sungai Kandis by-election in 2018. Voters here usually come in their normal attire.
"This is the first time I am seeing a Chinese bride's traditional wedding outfit up close. It is beautiful, intricate and is the most unique thing I have seen all day," he said.