ZULHUSNI Osman will head home to Pantai Nelayan, Port Dickson, on Saturday to vote for Pakatan Harapan candidate Anwar Ibrahim.

Even though he has to travel 300km from Johor, incurring high costs, the oil and gas worker does not want to miss the opportunity to vote in Anwar.

“I am about 60% sure of going back to vote, even though we need to think about costs,” the 25-year-old told The Malaysian Insight.

“But when we think about our constituency, our future, we need to go back and vote.”

Zulhusni, who was a first-time voter during the 14th general election, is one of thousands of Port Dickson folk living outside the army town who are expected to return home for the by-election.

For many, Anwar’s planned succession to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is the main motivation to return home and vote.

“As the future prime minister, Anwar can develop our area, Port Dickson,” said Zulhusni.

Outstation voters are also seen to be rejecting the candidacy of former Negri Sembilan menteri besar Isa Samad, who is contesting as an independent after quitting Umno recently.

Zulhusni said Isa has been plagued by various scandals, especially those related to Felda, of which he is former chairman.

“Isa has multiple issues, with the Felda scandals and all. People in Teluk Kemang and Port Dickson are fed up with Isa.

“Even though he has followers, but with the issues, Isa does not have what it takes to draw in new voters.”

Isa is seen to have the support of older voters as he served as menteri besar for 22 years. He was also Linggi and Bagan Pinang assemblyman.

Ahmad Firdaus Omar, another oil and gas worker from Pengerang, Johor, said he, too, will go back to Port Dickson and vote.

“In the last elections, I did not have the chance to vote, (but) this time, I will go back,” said the 24-year-old.

He said he will vote for Anwar based on his elders telling him about the former deputy prime minister’s sacrifices for the nation.

“All the old people speak a lot about Anwar… Isa, on the other hand, I do not know much about.”

Nurse Mimi Nabila said she is excited to return home and vote for Anwar as he is the prime minister-in-waiting.

“I am excited to vote, especially when Anwar is contesting,” said the 28-year old, who works in Kuala Lumpur.

The Port Dickson seat has 77,750 voters, comprising 43% Malays, Chinese (33%), Indians (22%) and others (2%).

Early voters comprise more than 6,690 army men and 578 from the police force.

PH’s election director and Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun said 35% of registered voters live outside the constituency.

The Undi Rabu initiative, launched to bring voters home for the May 9 general election, which was held on a Wednesday, has been revived for the Port Dickson polls.

Anwar is in a seven-way battle for the seat. He is up against five independent candidates – Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, Isa Samad, Lau Seck Yan, Stevie Chan and Kan Chee Yuen – and air force veteran Mohd Nazari Mokhtar of PAS.

The seat fell vacant after Danyal Balagopal Abdullah, of PKR, quit as MP to make way for Anwar, who is attempting a Parliament comeback.

In GE14, Danyal got 36,225 votes, defeating Barisan Nasional’s Mogan Velayatham and Mahfuz Roslan of PAS, who received 18,515 and 6,594 votes, respectively. – October 7, 2018.