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JOHOR BAHRU - The 16th Johor State Election has not only allowed voters to determine the state's leadership but has also provided a significant economic boost for small businesses, from maritime transport operators to food vendors.
In MERSING, boat operators have been kept busy ferrying Election Commission (EC) personnel, security teams and voters to the islands ahead of and on polling day.
Mustakim Shafie, 35, owner of Island Eagle Boat Services & Island Hopping, said that besides transporting EC personnel, his company has also been hired by nearly 50 voters travelling back to the islands to cast their ballots.
"Yesterday, our operations were focused entirely on transporting EC personnel and logistics, while today we are ferrying groups of voters.
"Alhamdulillah, our bookings have doubled compared to a normal day."
Mustakim, who owns six speedboats, said charter packages typically cost between RM4,000 and RM4,500 for a three-day, two-night trip, while a one-way journey for up to 18 passengers is priced at about RM2,500.
He said unpredictable weather and sea conditions remain the biggest challenges in ensuring the smooth transportation of passengers and election logistics during the state polls.
Veteran boat operator Hasrul Azmin Jumaat, 39, said his more than two decades of experience navigating the waters had helped ensure safe journeys, including the more than two-hour, 76-kilometre trip to Pulau Aur.
"We hope for favourable weather today and for everyone to arrive safely," he said.
Meanwhile, in ISKANDAR PUTERI, the election atmosphere brought brisk business to food vendors operating near polling centres, with customers streaming in from early morning.
For husband-and-wife team Ismail Mad Hasim, 55, and Faradila Fairuz Mohd Affandi, 45, polling day proved especially rewarding as their stall beside Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Sutera became a popular stop for voters.
Ismail said customers began arriving as early as 8 am, particularly those who voted early, with putu piring, nasi lemak and fresh coconut water emerging as the day's best-selling items.
"We also operated here during the last General Election, and our putu piring received an overwhelming response. We decided to return this time, and the response has again been beyond our expectations," he said.
The couple hope to sell about 800 pieces of putu piring throughout the day.
Despite the brisk business, they said they would still fulfil their civic responsibility by casting their votes at the same polling centre after selling out their food.
Polling for the Johor state election, involving more than 2.6 million registered voters, is scheduled to continue until 6 pm today. - BERNAMA