“Please go out and vote!!!” – Voter Turnout For State Elections Low

As we all know, today (12 August) is the day that we have state elections for 6 states in Peninsular Malaysia: Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor and Pulau Pinang.

Up until now, Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya Malaysia (SPR) or the Election Committee (EC) has been updating the voter turnout percentage in the different states and the numbers are quite concerning.

The 9 am update started at close to 10% for all the states and a by-election: Kedah, 10%; Kelantan, 8%; Terengganu, 10%; Pulau Pinang, 10%; Selangor, 10%; N.Sembilan, 9%; and PRK P.036 Kuala Terengganu, 10%.

Their latest update (1 pm) as of the time of writing shows that the voter turnout percentage for 5 of the states is less than 50%: Kedah, 49%; Kelantan, 40%; Terengganu, 50%; Pulau Pinang, 46%; Selangor, 44%; Negeri Sembilan, 42%; and PRK P.036 Kuala Terengganu, 47%.

This is of course, very alarming and many social media users have urged one another to go out and cast their votes if they are registered voters in the 6 states.

Michelle Ng Mei Sze, the ADUN for Subang Jaya has also voiced her concern in a video.

“As of 11 am, only 32% of the voters in Subang Jaya turned up.”

She also urged Malaysians to ask those around them to go and vote if they haven’t.

“Please look at the people around you whose fingers are still clean and ask them to go vote. We have until 6 pm only.”

Siapa di mana jarinya bersih tolong tegur masa beli lunch nanti ? pic.twitter.com/lNGSmBGYA1

— Michelle Ng Mei Sze | 黄美诗 (@michellengms) August 12, 2023

Many people might think that the state elections are not as important as the parliamentary elections. However, that is false as the state government is who you turn to when there are potholes on the road or the streetlights are not working.

So, your vote is one that can directly affect your quality of life when residing in your constituency. Please go out and exercise your civic duty by casting your vote!

Also read: M’sian Volunteers In Singapore Bring Home Postal Votes For State Elections