MELAKA – A brief commotion erupted at a voting centre here after a member of the public ticked off Election Commission (EC) officers for not providing enough wheelchairs for elderly voters.
The incident happened around 8.15am when a middle-aged man drove his parents to the centre at SK Durian Daun (K), where Barisan Nasional chief minister candidate Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali also cast his ballot.
Upon arrival, the man had asked an EC officer if they had a wheelchair for his elderly father to which he was told to wait as there were only two at the centre, and both are being used.
Unimpressed by the answer, the man retorted: “How can there only be two wheelchairs? If I knew, I would have brought my own. Stupid EC.”
After the individual left, the elderly voter waited outside the school compound with his wife for a wheelchair, as he was unable to walk.
However, after a few minutes with no help in sight, the man was heard saying he could no longer stand.
At this point, media members had to press EC staff to at least provide a chair for him to sit. He was only later, after five minutes, given a wheelchair to enter the polling centre.
Within the first hour of voting alone, The Vibes witnessed many instances where elderlies were made to wait outside the premises as they could not walk.
Some said they were told not to bring their own wheelchair as this would be provided at the centres.
The Vibes understands that each polling centre in Melaka was only provided two wheelchairs each by the EC.
Later, Sulaiman told the press that he has ordered his team to add four wheelchairs to each of the four voting centres under the Lendu constituency, where he is contesting.
Voting opened at 8am today and will close at 5.30pm. The result is expected to be known later tonight. – The Vibes, November 20, 2021
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