WITH the Johor elections about two weeks away, all eyes are on Johor folk working in Singapore and whether they will return home to vote.

It is estimated there are around 200,000 Johor folk in Singapore, who are part of the state’s 2.5 million electorate.

Voters who spoke to The Malaysian Insight were split on whether or not to return home for the polls.

Some said since it is their constitutional right to vote, they will take the initiative to go home or apply for postal voting.

Others are of the view that the elections are a waste of time as there are no candidates who will bring about meaningful change in the state.

For those who want to vote at home, whether they are able to is contingent on securing a ticket for the land and air Malaysia-Singapore vaccinated travel lane (VTL).

Eng Kok Siang, 43, said he has been unable to buy a VTL ticket, but that will not stop him from going home.

Eng has not gone home since the Covid-19 pandemic shut the borders two years ago.

“It just so happened that my time (in Johor) coincides with the polling day,” he said.

“I will take the initiative to queue and cast my vote,” the Sg Balang voter said.

Ticket sales for the VTL were temporarily suspended on December 21 in light of rising Covid-19 cases.

Last week, Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong announced that flight and bus tickets for the VTL have resumed for 100% seating capacity.

Travel by bus started yesterday.

Eng believes that as a voter, he has the responsibility to exercise his right.

“The turbulent political situation now is why we have to vote and change the status quo.

“I’ve been following the developments in Johor closely while in Singapore, and I understand why Barisan Nasional (BN) and the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government chose to dissolve the state assembly,” Eng, who has voted since 2004, said.

While the results may not be as he expects, Eng said that is beside the point, as he would have exercised his right.

“We cannot just complain and criticise the government but not vote.

“Among my friends, I’m the only one who has decided to go home and vote. I tried convincing others to register for postal voting, but they are not willing to do so.”

Due to the pandemic, for the first time ever, the Election Commission has made postal voting an option for Johor residents working in Singapore.

The registration ended on February 18, but it is unclear how many have registered for it.

In previous elections, Malaysians based in neighbouring regions, including Southern Thailand (Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala, Songkhla and Satun), Singapore, Brunei, and Kalimantan (Indonesia), could not vote by post.

Desmond Tay, 34, who will vote under the Bentayan seat, said he could not secure a VTL ticket to go home, let alone vote.

“Since Covid-19 cases have risen sharply, my family have asked me to delay coming home as they are worried for my safety.”

Tay said he is indifferent to the political situation as his priorities are his health and career.

“This election is like choosing between two rotten apples, whoever wins will also be rotten,” he said.

Another Johor resident, Ivan Soon, 37, said he has decided not to vote as he is disappointed with the current political climate.

“In the last elections, I took leave to go home to vote so that we could have a democratically elected government.

“But due to political turmoil, we have changed governments three times. So what is the point of voting?” he asked.

Soon said he had made arrangements to return to Johor on March 15, and that he has no intention of changing his plans.

“I’m disheartened and no longer have any interest in voting in the next general election.”

In 2018, Pakatan Harapan (PH) came into power after a historic win, ending BN’s 60-year rule.

Less than two years into power, the PH government toppled following the “Sheraton move”, which saw Muhyiddin Yassin appointed prime minister and forming the PN government.

Seventeen months later, Muhyiddin’s tenure came to an end against the backdrop of poor pandemic management, which saw him ousted and Ismail Sabri Yaakob appointed prime minister. – February 23, 2022.