Singaporeans vote and then travel to JB to shop

JOHOR BAHRU – First, they cast their votes like any dutiful Singaporean. Then they wasted no time in making their way to Johor Bahru for a brief getaway.

For many of them, shopping was high on the agenda.

Checks at a mall near the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex showed a steady stream of Singaporeans arriving, some with their luggage and others laden with shopping bags.

Heavy congestion could be seen along main roads in the city.

“It was an impromptu decision to make a day trip to Johor Baru,” said cyclotron senior technician Mohd Shahri Seradeen, 49, who came with his wife and son after casting his vote in the morning.

Singapore held its polling day on May 3, which was declared a public holiday.

Mr Mohd Shahri, who was interviewed at the shopping mall near the Causeway, said he had gone to the polling centre at about 8.30am.

“I had expected to see a long queue, as people normally prefer voting in the morning. But surprisingly, there was no crowd and the voting process was smooth and fast. We were done within minutes,” he said.

As such, he said his family decided on a whim to visit Johor Baru.

He said the traffic heading towards Johor Baru was heavier than usual when he crossed the border at around noon.

“We plan to take the bus back to Singapore in the evening or at night. So, we will probably be home by the time the election results are announced,” he added.

As for a senior patient services associate, who only wanted to be known as Ms Rahini, she made a trip to Johor Bahru for shopping too.

“I planned this trip when it was announced last month that the election would be held on May