After nearly two decades of waiting, 75-year-old casts first vote in Johor polls

PASIR GUDANG – A 75-year-old man finally fulfils his dream of voting in Malaysia after nearly two decades of waiting, casting his ballot for the first time in the 16th Johor state election on Saturday.

Supaid Karmat, 75, said the experience of marking his ballot paper for the first time was one of the most meaningful moments of his life after obtaining Malaysian citizenship in 2024.

The former Singaporean said he was overwhelmed with excitement and emotion the moment his finger was marked with indelible ink, officially signifying his participation in the country's democratic process.

“For decades, my role was simply to drive my wife and children to the polling station.

“Every time I watched them walk in to vote, I always prayed that one day it would be my turn.

“Alhamdulillah, today I finally experienced voting for myself. After waiting nearly 20 years for my citizenship application to be approved, I was finally able to stand inside the polling station as a Malaysian citizen,” he said when met after voting at Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Bukit Dahlia here on Saturday.

Supaid said he was previously the only member of his family without Malaysian citizenship, while his wife and their six children, who were born in the country, had long been Malaysian citizens.

He said the opportunity to vote for the first time would remain a cherished memory for the rest of his life.

“I love Malaysia very much. This country is peaceful, prosperous and its people live in harmony.

“My hope as an elderly Malaysian is that the peace and harmony we enjoy today will continue to endure and be passed on to future generations,” he said.