Jepak by-election: Johanna catches attention with Melanau attire

BINTULU - A voter in the Jepak state by-election today caught everyone’s attention after dressing up in a traditional Melanau costume when fulfilling her civic responsibility.

Johanna Mohd Amin @ Yeo, 47, who works at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Bintulu Campus and pursued her studies there, arrived at the polling centre at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Kampung Jepak here at around 10am.

"Actually, I am wearing this outfit not just to vote because, after this, I need to rush to the campus to attend a convocation ceremony,” she told Bernama.

In the hurried meeting, she did not have the chance to inform her field of study.

The convocation ceremony was graced by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who is also the Chancellor of UPM.

An elderly couple, Abbas Sulak, 71, and his wife, Ross Dolgapar, 78, also garnered attention when they arrived at the same polling centre.

While pushing his wife in a wheelchair, Abbas enthusiastically told Bernama that they have never missed the opportunity to vote since they turned 21.

"I have lost count of how many times we have voted together, but I hope to continue fulfilling this responsibility as long as we can,” he said.

A total of 5,446 voters are eligible to cast their votes at SK Kampung Jepak, making it the largest number of voters in the Jepak state constituency.

The Jepak by-election was called following the death of its six-term assemblyman, the late Datuk Talib Zulpilip, on Sept 15. - BERNAMA