IF the Sarawak election is held soon, candidates in the Kuching constituency of Pending should count out the vote of Josh John.

The wheelchair bound paraplegic has made up his mind not to vote when the infection numbers are still high.

But it’s not the fear of getting infected with Covid-19 that is his main concern when deciding to forego his democratic right.

The former accountant turned social worker said it is the health rules that would be put in place to curb the spread of the infection that would be uncomfortable for a physically challenged person like him.

“A long queue and a long wait in line before I get to the ballot box could be expected.

“The inconvenience is not worth it,” he said.

However, John is the exception to the general sentiment in a random sampling taken among voters in Sarawak by The Malaysian Insight

In what could be a possible trend if Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg were to call an early election, most voters said they will go cast their vote, even if they could be spending hours at the polling station.

But nearly all said they would not attend any political gatherings during the campaign period.

The mandate of the state government ends in June and with the mass Covid vaccination starting in just a week’s time, talk of an early election is picking up again.

Though an emergency in force till August means there will be no election in June, talk of a vote soon has gathered steam as improving infection numbers raises the possibility of the declaration being lifted. 

Since he had decided not to vote, attending political gatherings is therefore out of the question for John.

“Even if I am curious to hear what they have to say, why expose myself to the high risk of getting infected?

“My health is more important,” he said.   

Mark Kwan, a voter in the suburban constituency of Tarat near Serian, said he will vote because he thinks elections are important.

“Even though I do not think it’s a good time to hold election, we should be good citizens.”

But he too will stay away from political gatherings.

“Definitely a no, no. I’ m sure there will be other ways of getting information during the campaign period.”

Rural voters share the sentiment that casting their votes is a “patriotic duty” that must be fulfilled.

Indu Thomas, who votes in the rural Dayak-majority constituency of Krian in Saratok and Augustine Liong, who votes in another rural Dayak-majority constituency of Batang Ai in Lubok Antu – 200km from Kuching – said nothing will stop them from going out to vote.

“My right (to exercise) and I hope a strict SOP is in place to keep us all safe,” Thomas said.

She said though she will not attend political gatherings even in the “safety” of her longhouse for fear of getting infected, that same fear is tossed out of the window when it comes to casting her vote by her desire to “exercise her right as a good citizen”.

“I won’t attend the ceramah for fear of getting the infection but I’m not afraid to queue up in line to cast my vote.

“Anyway, there’s no necessity to attend the ceramahs as I basically already know what they will be talking about.”

Liong has a different reason for voting.

He says his anger at having the election during the pandemic is more intense than his fear of the Covid-19.

“I will go and vote against the government and if there is any ceramah. They know there is a pandemic. Why hold the election?

“If the government is going for the election during the pandemic, they are stupid and plan to kill us.” – February 21, 2021.