Sabah Election: Spinal cord injury, wheelchair-bound, no excuse not to vote

An elderly man with spinal cord injury and wheelchair-bound senior citizens proved that ageing-associated diseases are no excuse for them to cast their votes in the Sabah state election today.

When met at the polling centre at SK Pekan Tambunan today, they said they have never failed to vote, either in state or general election, and would not start now.

Eilee Indu, an 82-year-old wheelchair-bound voter from Pekan Tambunan, said going to the polls had been part of her life, and she pledged to continue voting as long as she lives.

“This is our state and this election is important to us to choose our future leader…despite being on the wheelchair for quite some time, I and my childhood friend managed to cast our vote today,” she told Bernama when met at the centre.

Eilee’s childhood friend, also a wheelchair-bound voter, Mary Ogiu, 82, said the right to vote was essential to a well-functioning democracy in the country.

“It (voting) has become our practise since we were young, we love voting as we get to exercise our rights to choose who we think deserves our votes.

“We hope this can be emulated by the young people to exercise their rights in future elections,” she said.

Both Eilee and Mary were seen sent by their relatives to the polling centre and assisted by the Election Commission staff to their voting channel.

Meanwhile, Dolaris Michael, 67, who is suffering from spinal cord injury, said despite having common health problems in old age, voting is a must to him.

“I never failed in exercising my rights as a Malaysian citizen…being an ordinary Malaysian, I received many government assistance, and this is time to show our patriotism towards the state and the nation by voting,” he said.

Two siblings from Kampung Papar, Tambunan, Eve Novenna Gustin, 30, and Evejenevie Gustin 24, and they felt very proud to have completed their civic duty today.

“I can’t wait to see the result tonight, we believe every single vote counts,” Novenna said.

-- BERNAMA