PASIR GUDANG: To encourage voters to come out and exercise their right on polling day, a restaurant owner will be giving out free food.

Zulrahim Yusof, 50, said he would be giving out 200 packets of Nasi Arab for free to voters at his Arabic-themed Al-Hanin restaurant located at Taman Rinting here today.Generous gesture: Zulrahim says he will also be giving a 15% discount to dine-in customers at his restaurant today.

“I want to encourage Malaysians, especially young and first-time voters, to come out and vote in GE15,” he said.

Zulrahim said besides giving out free food, he would also be giving a 15% discount to those who eat at his restaurant today.

“They just have to show their index finger with the indelible ink as a sign that they have exercised their civic duty as Malaysians.

“God willing, we will be giving them a packet of chicken mandy rice, but it is limited to only 200 packets.

“We also welcome customers who want to dine in after voting to enjoy a 15% discount,” he said.

Zulrahim said the gesture was just a small step to remind his fellow Malaysians of the importance of having their voices heard through voting.

He added that besides encouraging people to vote, he hoped his initiative would also help to promote the concept of sharing with the local community.

Liyana Abdul Rahman, who operates Pondok Kueh in Taman Perling, is also taking the same initiative.

The 35-year-old is working together with over 80 home baker vendors to give away various desserts and cakes for free as a token of appreciation to those who go out to vote.

“Most of our customers are young people, so we want to create a little ‘excitement’ for them on polling day,” she told Bernama.

She said that customers can also redeem the offer tomorrow.

Liyana, who had the opportunity to exercise her right to vote more than four times, including in the state election last March, said she was doing this to add meaning to the important process.