Johor is calling you home

Former Bersih activist Mandeep Singh calls on Johoreans across Malaysia to return to Johor on July 11 to elect the government they want.

After two weeks of campaigning, polling day has finally arrived.

Tomorrow, more than 2.7 million Johoreans are registered to vote across 1,076 polling centres and 4,849 voting streams. But one number matters more than any other: you.

Hundreds of thousands of Johoreans now live and work in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Melaka and other parts of Malaysia. In the last Johor state election, voter turnout was only 54.9 per cent. Many could not return because the borders were still closed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This time, there is no such excuse.

The borders are open. Buses, trains and highways are moving. Going home is no longer impossible.

Dear Johoreans living outside your home state,

Your vote on July 11 will determine what kind of Johor your parents, your children and future generations will inherit.

Johor needs you.

Not just to vote, but to ensure that the right people are elected to serve the people with integrity, honesty and accountability.

Ask yourself this.

Can Johor afford another five years of leaders who say one thing during elections but do another after the votes are counted?

Johor has always been Malaysia’s gateway to the world; a progressive, moderate and multiracial state. Investors continue choosing Johor because they have confidence in Malaysia’s economic direction. Billions of ringgit in investments, the RTS Link, the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and other major initiatives require close cooperation between Putrajaya and Johor.

That future begins with your vote.

If you need to drive home, drive home.

If you need to take a train, take the train.

If you need to carpool with friends, do it.

The journey home may take a few hours.

But the government you choose will shape Johor for the next five years.

I cannot vote in Johor.

My family cannot vote in Johor either.

But you can.

Your family can.

Your friends can.

Johor is calling you home.

Please don’t leave that responsibility to someone else.

Come home.

And help build the Johor that all of us know is possible.

The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the writer and do not represent that of Twentytwo13.