KEPALA BATAS, Aug 12 — Being on crutches did not deter an elderly couple here from exercising their voting rights in the state election today.

Mat Nordin Mat Aroff, 75, and his wife, Noriah Saad, 69, had a nerve-related condition that made it difficult for them to move and required them to use a walking aid.

"When my wife and I arrived here (the polling station), there were wheelchairs provided for us, and we were assisted by election staff to cast our votes,” Mat Nordin told reporters after casting his vote at Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (C) Pei Yu, a polling centre for the Bertam state seat here today.

Mat Nordin also lauded the Election Commission for its thorough preparations, which included providing wheelchairs to voters in need, which aided in ensuring a smooth voting process at the polling centre.

Earlier, Barisan Nasional candidate for the Bertam state seat, Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Ismalina Ismail, daughter Reena Awliyatul Imani and son-in-law Ahmad Zaki Nor Azlan also cast their ballots at the polling centre at 9.50am.

Reezal Merican, a member of the Umno Supreme Council, is facing Perikatan Nasional’s Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq in a straight fight for the seat. — Bernama