GE14 | Septuagenarian cyclist Wan Hashim Wan Mahmood completed his seventh solo cycling tour across southern Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore today - which was earlier than scheduled – to exercise his right to vote in the 14th general election.

The 73-year-old who arrived at his house in Kampung Telipot in Kota Bahru about 1pm said he was scheduled to complete the 2,800km expedition which started on April 7, this Friday.

"However, I cut short my transit stops to ensure that I would be able to cast my ballot and I made it right on time. It's quite tiring but for me, it's really worth it," he told Bernama after casting his ballot at the Maktab Sultan Ismail in Kota Bahru for the Bunut Payong state seat and Kota Bahru parliamentary seat.

Clad in sportswear, an enthusiastic Wan Hashim who came by on his bicycle to the polling centre said he was happy and relieved to discharge his voting rights on time.

He said his success in completing the tour would also notch a place in the Malaysia Book of Records for the fourth time as the oldest male solo cyclist to ride across Peninsular Malaysia.

Sharing his cycling experience, Wan Hashim said the expedition was quite challenging this time around, due to the extremely hot weather as well as a number of challenging scaling spots, namely Bukit Broga, Selangor; Bukit Fraser, Pahang and Gunung Jerai in Kedah.

”All praise be to Allah, I managed to overcome all the challenges with my stamina and sufficient training,” he said.

- Bernama