Gender mix-up leaves voter in a spot

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A 57-year-old voter in Melaka came close to being denied from casting his ballot when the Election Commission's (EC) voters' list stated him as a woman.

"After checking the list (at SKJ(C) Pay Fong 1), I was told by the officer in charge that I cannot vote because the gender stated on my identity card and the EC list were different," Tan See Ting told Bernama .

He said he has voted five times before and there had been no problems with his gender before.

Disappointed, he then approached Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Kota Laksamana state seat Lim Eng Teck for help.

With the help of the politician, Tan was later allowed to vote after obtaining a letter from the EC confirming his gender.

Wrong tick

In Kelantan, an elderly woman stole the show at a polling station in Kota Bharu when she requested for a new ballot paper after ticking the wrong party by mistake in the first.

The woman, in her 70s, pleaded with the officials at the polling station to give her a new ballot paper.

Her request was granted and an EC officer also helped her to put her ballot paper in the proper box.

In Kedah, another elderly woman stunned other voters at a polling station in Alor Setar when she suddenly began to cry loudly.

Sofiah Ariffin, 70, broke out in tears when waiting for the EC officials to check her voting channel for the Kubang Rotan state seat.

She later told reporters that she could not control herself because she was still able to vote at this age.

Whereas in Baling, a 102-year-old grandmother Rajmah Omar and grandfather Abu Bakar Harun, who also claims to be 102, cast their votes this morning.

"I have never failed to vote during elections as it is our right and obligation as a citizen," said Rajmah who was virtually carried to the polling centre.



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