PADANG SERAI: Abdul Razak Ishak, 62, limped to the polling centre at SK Bukit Selarong today to cast his ballot for the Padang Serai parliamentary seat election.
Razak, who lost his ability to speak after suffering a stroke two years ago, turned down a wheelchair offered by Election Commission (EC) staff as he prefers to be supported by his wife, Kamariah Salleh, 58.
Kamariah said her husband used to work at an oil palm estate, but became disabled after a stroke.
She said he also has high blood pressure and diabetes.
She hoped the new Padang Serai member of parliament would not ignore the plight of the disabled.
"I hope whoever gets elected today will look into the welfare of the disabled in the constituency."
Retired estate supervisor P. Govindasamy, 75, who uses a cane to walk, had the same wish.
He said he has been struggling with his application for an OKU card since 2015.
"I voted for a certain candidate in the previous general election because he promised to help me with my application for an OKU card.
"He even took down my details when I met him during his campaign, but I haven't heard anything since then."
OKU cardholders are entitled to allowances, tax relief and discounts, among other things.
In the 14th General Election, the Padang Serai parliamentary seat was won by Pakatan Harapan's M. Karupaiya with a 8,813-vote majority, beating MCA's Datuk Dr Leong Yong Kong and Pas' Mohammad Sobri Osman.
PH fielded Karupaiya, 69, to defend the seat in the 15th General Election, but he died on Nov 16, two days after being admitted to Kulim Hospital following a heart attack he suffered during campaigning.
After his death, the Election Commission postponed the Padang Serai parliamentary seat election to Dec 7.
The Padang Serai constituency has 132,955 eligible voters.