UNDI 18 voters will be strong factor in Johor election outcome – Ganabatirao

Preparations underway for the Johor state elections on March 12. Photo courtesy of Selangor state assemblyman Ganabatirao Veraman.
Kota Kemuning assemblyman Ganabatirao.

SHAH ALAM, Feb 25 – The first-time voters in the upcoming Johor state election this March 12, following the successful implementation of UNDI18, are in a place to make a strong impact in the way the election turns out and consequently how the rest of the country can be administered in the years to come, said Selangor State Executive Council member Ganabatirao Veraman.

Recollecting how the allied parties of Pakatan Harapan, comprising DAP, PKR and Amanah had struggled to make UNDI 18 initiative a reality, which now allows those who had turned 18 by end of 2021, to vote for the first time in the Johor election, Ganabatirao reminded the fresh voters on the importance of their decision at the polls.

In a video published in his Facebook account on Thursday, the state assemblyman for Kota Kemuning said the struggle for UNDI 18 will now rest on the young voters and how their decision could make a difference in the country’s future direction.

He urged them to elect intelligent leaders, who are free from corruption and reject those who use the race and religion cards for their own agenda and to instill hate among the people.

The countries that are doing well now are those with politicians who are matured in their thinking, and who believe in developing each and every citizen in order to bring overall development to their country, and hence it is important for the new voters to elect proper leaders, he said.

The UNDI18 is expected to add at least 600,000 new voters in Johor’s latest electoral list.

The March 2022 Johor state polls will see the election of 56 members for the state legislative assembly following the dissolution of the previous state assembly on January 22 this year.

The early election was called when the government led by Menteri Besar Hasni Mohammad lost its simple majority in the legislature.

The government had 28 seats, one seat more than the 27 seats held by the opposition following the death of former Menteri Besar Osman Sapian on Dec 21, 2021.

The Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Ismail consented to the dissolution of the state legislative assembly on Jan 22 this year.

–WE