Soon after, people began venting about the midweek polling day and how it is now even more challenging to make travel plans back home to vote.
A group of generous Malaysians took it to social media and started a movement that could make it to the history books.
Twitter users came forward to offer help in the form of funding as well as carpool rides to those who need help returning to their hometowns using the hashtags '#PulangMengundi' and '#CarpoolGE14'.
Ok…. You know what.
— klubbkidd™ (@klubbkiddkl) April 10, 2018
I’m starting the hashtag #PulangMengundi.
If you have problems taking time off to vote, or can’t afford to - please use the hashtag, and maybe someone can help.
Some of them have set aside money ranging between RM150 to RM1,000 to help pay their fellow Malaysians pay for their bus rides and flights back home.
If anyone is having issues with airfare back to Sabah/Sarawak for #May9 please DM me and I will buy you a ticket. Feel free to RT.
— Tashny Sukumaran (@tashny) April 10, 2018
Helping out with financial aid (undisclosed amount) for #PulangMengundi - will accept claims with travel receipts as proof, just reach out to me with travel plans beforehand to confirm budget allocation.
— Mark (@markzoomy) April 10, 2018
Priorities to students, East Msians, and partial subsidies.
hi. I can't vote yet but I just want to reach out to people (priorities will be given to students) who needs financial assistance to #PulangMengundi.
— Adhura Husna (@Dhuralumin) April 10, 2018
- bus tickets
- toll and gas
Slide into my DM! I don't have much but it's the least I could do.
I didn’t register to vote and missed the chance when i finally found out how and where to register. But i don’t want anyone else to miss out on the chance to vote just because they couldn’t afford to travel. So anyone who is in need of some help to #PulangMengundi, pls reply.
— Att Yusof (@thisissoatt) April 10, 2018
I've set aside RM300 to help top-up anyone who's trying to #PulangMengundi. I have RM150 left. :) Priority will be given to:
— Ganaesh Devaraj (@ganaeshd) April 10, 2018
1. Duit tiket bas
2. Duit tiket tren
3. Duit tol
4. Duit petrol
Please let me know how I can help.
Sesiapa dari Johor yang balik mengundi di Kelantan, boleh contact number dalam post ni untuk balik dengan bas percuma. #CarpoolGE14 pic.twitter.com/wAPLNrSkuY
— rai (@raihankadir) April 10, 2018
Im staying at bangsar to kuala terengganu. Anyone willing to help? Carpool will be fine to me ( woman / families ). I can drive too. #PulangMengundi #CarpoolGE14
— nana (@hana_faith) April 10, 2018
#PulangMengundi and #carpoolGE14 is the coolest thing on Twitter today.
— yoong (@pseudolokun) April 10, 2018
Malaysians at our very best. #MalaysiaMemilih
Another group of Malaysians has also taken this initiative one step further by setting up a fund called 'Undi Rabu' to help those who need to travel across the country to vote.
They have fixed a flat subsidy that is determined based on their location and mode of transportation.
If you would like to make a direct contribution, visit this page. Once you've done so, just upload your proof of transaction or email [email protected].
If you are seeking sponsors or travel assistance, you can visit this page to find help.
Alternatively, you can also contact Undi Rabu to pledge an amount. The recipients and donors' information will be shared with you to maintain transparency, unless requested otherwise.
We're excited to see this social media movement come to fruition this 9 May. Let's exercise our right as citizens and vote for our future.