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Lawyer plans to assist people cope with modern-day living

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JOHOR BARU: She claims her husband loves his pet dog more than her, and she wants to know if this can be grounds for divorce.

While the case may be uncommon, lawyer Wong You Fong said she is not surprised.

“Modern-day living is simply stressful. Stress triggers a host of social and health problems like depression and family breakdown,” said Wong.

The case of the woman vying with the pet for her husband’s attention could be more than meets the eye, said the 47-year-old Wanita Johor MCA chief who has been active in social work for over 20 years in the state.

She said the party’s 26 divisions in Johor have received all sorts of cases seeking help every day.

Wong, who is set to contest for the Perling state seat in Johor, said she wants to use her experience to help the constituents.

The seat, known as Pengkalan Rinting before this, is held by DAP’s Cheo Yee How.

It is an urban seat under the Pulai parliamentary constituency.

“Social problems have evolved and gotten more complicated, especially in urban areas. The people need more attention and help to cope with modern-day living.

“This is my observation over the years,” Wong said.

She pledged to set up a centre in Perling to cater to the constituents if given the mandate on May 9.

“I want to make help more accessible and convenient for them to come forward,” she said, adding that this

Social problems s have evolved and gotte n more complicated, espe ecially in urban areas. The people p need more attention an nd help to cope with modern n-day living. Wong You Fong

would be one way to encourage them to seek help.

While there are solutions to problems, Wong noted that the process of finding a solution is most important.

She cited the case of a girl who felt so helpless and vulnerable but did not want to turn to her family for help.

Her reason, she said, was her family in the village had their fair share of problems and that she did not want to burden them.

“This is also where we and nongovernment organisations with different areas of expertise and experience can step in,” she explained.

Wong said she wanted the people to know that help is available.

While the Government has put in place organisations or aid for the public, Wong said many people were either not aware of such help or do not know how to access it.

“This is an important link and can also be a missing link most of the time,” she said of one of the reasons for help not being able to filter down to the ground.

In Perling, an urban settlement with new and old housing estates, Wong said there are ways to make the living environment more conducive.

For the younger generation who hope to own an affordable house, she said there are housing schemes under the government – state and federal level – for those who meet the criteria.

Buying a house is a commitment that may come as a big financial burden for the young people, she said.

Making housing affordable can go a long way in helping the people cope with the rising cost of living – a source of stress that can trigger many other problems, she said.

On basic facilities, Wong said she wants to find out from the residents what can be done to make the place more conducive for living.

“My observations are that the residents there are into healthy lifestyles, like exercising and dancing in the park,” she said.

A healthy lifestyle, she added, is the foundation to good health – physically and mentally – and it can go a long way for an individual, family and country.

On education, Wong, a mother of two schoolgoing children, said the coming new Chinese primary school in Taman Bukit Indah in the constituency is good news for the residents.

A school near to home, she said, would make it more convenient for the parents and pupils in juggling their time in city living.