MELAKA: Voters in Asahan are eager to cast their votes today, despite adhering to stringent standard-operating procedures (SOP).
Tijah Abas, 79, walked to Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SRJKC) Chia Chee, Selandar which is located next to her house as early as 7.30am.
She said the polling process this time was different than what she had experienced before, citing the strict guidelines which required her to sanitise, screen for temperature and practice physical distancing.
"This election is different than the ones before. I have to sanitise my hands so many times once I entered the compound until I have finished voting.
"I decided to come early not because my house is near, but I want to get it over with soon as I have been told there are many SOPs in place.
"The polling officers were very accommodating, explaining to me the processes and guidelines," she told the New Straits Times.
Tijah also described today's atmosphere of the Melaka state election as more sombre compared to the 14th General Election.
"During GE14, the queue was already long even before 8am. I hope more people will come out and vote," she said.
Enchoing similar view with Tijah was retired soldier Saru Melan, 58, who said there was too many temperature checks at the polling centre.
"I have read the papers that voters must sanitise four times throughout the voting process so I prepared myself for it. But there was also too many temperature checks when I reached at each checkpoint.
"First (the temperature check is taken) when we enter the polling centre compound, during the queue and when voters enter each station. It is time consuming since we are only at the centre for less than 30 minutes," he said.
Another voter who only wanted to be known as Yati said she had travelled from Kuala Lumpur to cast her vote, knowing that stringent SOP had been put in place.
"I am confident to vote today after learning the Election Commission (EC) has placed strict guidelines for voters today.
"It also gave me a peace of mind to come home and visit my mother who is staying at Pekan Selandar. I was initially reluctant to return home to vote because of overcrowding.
"It is a long queue now but everything is organised," she said.
As of 9.30am, SRJKC Chia Chee polling centre supervisor said 294 voters out of 2,008 people who were scheduled to vote at the centre had cast their ballots.
Meanwhile, Barisan Nasional candidate Fairul Nizam Roslan visited the SRJKC Chia Chee polling centre.
Fairul who earlier voted at the Datuk Seri Mohd Zin vocational college said the voting process had been smooth.
He, however, requested for the EC to reduce the number of temperature screening and provide more chairs for the elderly voters.
"So far, I have seen voters including myself are satisfied with the SOP. But I think there are too many temperature screening checkpoints seeing the place is not as crowded.
"I also hope the EC officers will provide more chairs for the elderly voters because I saw some had to stand for some time," he said.
Fairul also called on voters to come out and vote, seeing that the SOP implemented by the EC had been smooth and organised.
Fairul is facing a six-cornered fight against former Umno member and now Pakatan Harapan candidate Datuk Seri Idris Haron, Dhanesh Basil (Perikatan Nasional) and independents Azmar Abd Hamid, Mohd Nor Salleh and Mohd Akhir Ayob.
In Asahan, there are 11 polling centres for 16,011 voters in the constituency.