MAJOR highways have started to choke with traffic as Malaysians begin their journeys back to their home towns to vote.

Since afternoon, traffic increased at stretches of the Kuala Lumpur-Karak, North-South Expressway and Gua Musang highway.

Highways leading out of the Klang Valley, such as the North Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE) towards Ipoh and Alor Star, and the Elite Highway towards Malacca and Johor, are also choked.

Social media users started to report traffic congestion at NKVE and the Elite Highway soon after office hours, posting photos of red tail-lights stretching ahead.

“The travelling time and traffic jam will really test the patience of the voters. I hope everyone will drive to their destination safely and do their once in every five-year duty,” motorist Geo Chong posted on Facebook three hours ago.

He reported seeing a standstill leading out of the Duta toll at NKVE towards the North-South Expressway and at the Duke highway interchange to the Kuala-Lumpur Karak highway.

Another Facebook user called Snowpiano Pang said this was the first time she had seen people being happy about jams.

The Edge Markets website reported that traffic at the Bentong toll has been increasing since yesterday evening. Its traffic flow rose 164% compared with the daily hourly rate as at noon today.

It added that voters heading to the east coast have caused a 20% surge in traffic between 8am and 9am on the Gua Musang highway.

Tomorrow, Malaysia will see its closest electoral fight since independence as the opposition, led by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, challenges the six-decade-old Barisan Nasional.

Pakatan Harapan is banking on a high voter turnout of at least 85% to beat BN. – May 8, 2018.