KUCHING, Dec 18 — Suffering from Parkinson’s disease has not stopped Ramli Mohd Jamali, 63, from casting his vote for the Samariang seat in the 12th Sarawak state election today.

The Sarawak Land and Survey Department pensioner completed his voting process at the Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Encik Buyong polling centre, here at 11.30 am.

“I have been suffering from Parkinson’s disease for the past four years, but I am excited to go to the polls and the voting process today went smoothly with the help of Election Commission (EC) staff,” he told Bernama after voting, here.

Several senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PwDs) were also seen entering the polling centre at SK Encik Buyong when it opened at 7.30 am.

Most of them, aged 70 and above, needed wheelchair assistance to facilitate their voting process.

Sharifah Misbah Wan Ibrahim, 72, who has just undergone leg surgery, was also eager to exercise her right to vote for the Samariang representative.

“I have just gone through surgery on my right leg but I still wanted to vote today,” she said.

Another voter, Awang Buang Awang Rosli, 86, who has voted seven times in the Samariang constituency, also needed wheelchair assistance to facilitate his movement at the polling centre.

The Samariang seat saw a three-cornered fight between Gabungan Parti Sarawak candidate, Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali; Abang Abdul Halil Abang Naili of Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) and Othman Abdillah of Parti Sedar Rakyat Sarawak (Sedar).

Source: BERNAMA News Agency