Young Kelantanese’ wishes can be a reality

KOTA BARU: The younger generation, according to MCA’s Chua Hock Kuan (pic), wants cinemas to be built in entertainment-deprived Kelantan.

Chua, who is the party’s likely candidate for the Kota Lama seat, said the wishes of young Kelantanese could be a reality if voters gave Barisan Nasional the mandate to rule the state.

Kelantan, which has been under PAS for six consecutive terms since 1990, has no cinemas or cineplexes.

“The young people I meet generally wish for cinemas.

“They also hope to see more development and job opportunities in the state.

“People of all ages have also expressed concern about floods, housing, water, poverty, and garbage collection, among other issues,” said the 37-year-old.

Chua, who has been active on the ground since December 2016, has been meeting people from different villages to gauge public sentiment.

“I am a kampung boy. I have no problem connecting with people of all ages,” said Chua, who speaks the Kelantan dialect fluently.

Kota Lama, which is a PAS stronghold, would likely see a four-cornered fight as Parti Sosialis Malaysia ( PSM) and Pakatan Harapan are also vying to contest the seat where the Chinese electorate is the kingmaker.

The seat is currently held by four- term PAS assemblyman Datuk Annuar Tan Abdullah.

State PSM chief Khairul Nizam Abdul Ghani, who is an activist, could also contest the seat where the Chinese make up about 30% of voters.

It is learnt that DAP is lobbying to contest the Kota Lama and Galas state seats in Kelantan.