Standing by their partners
Wives and husbands stick by candidates’ side while they campaign
Husbands and wives stick by candidates’ side during campaigning. >3
KOTA KINABALU: It’s a case of “stand by your woman” for Jonathan Yee.
The businessman has been seen at almost every event where his wife and MCA candidate for the Luyang state seat Dr Pamela Yong is.
“I am enjoying this experience in campaigning.
“Of course it is tiring, but I always feel a festive kind of mood during elections,” said the 41-year-old.
“Normally I’m very much a behind-the-scenes person.”
The couple, who have been together for 18 years, have four children aged between five months and 10 years.
Yee said he had learnt more about his wife’s character over the past two weeks than their 18 years together.
“For example, I’m amazed at how she could march into an Oppositionheld area, pick up a microphone and argue her case,” he said.
“She is a born arguer. Trust me, I know. But in saying that, she needs engagement and perhaps even a tough challenge from her audience to really perform.”
Yee joked that he found it difficult to be the “handbag carrier” to his wife during the campaign.
“I don’t like carrying handbags!” he said.
Yee isn’t new to election campaigns. In GE13, his mother-in-law, Datuk Agnes Shim, was the Luyang candidate as well.
In Johor, Pulai Sebatang candidate Datuk Tee Siew Kiong of MCA always has his wife Datin Lee Choon Guek by his side during his cam- paign trail.
Day or night, she is present not just as a teammate but also to ensure he takes care of his health and drinks enough water throughout the exhausting schedule.
She described her husband, a three-time assemblyman, as a workaholic.
They have four children aged 19 to 26.
“Unlike in past elections when I spent more time taking care of the children, I have more time now as they are all grown up,” she said.
The wife of Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon of PKR said campaigning with her husband was hard work but she was determined to be by his side as much as possible.
Nor Azizah Haron, 59, said many might accuse her husband of “parachuting” into Batu Pahat.
She was, however, confident that he would win the hearts of the voters.
“He is the type of person who can get along with anyone,” said the retired teacher.