LOCAL ISSUES TO TAKE CENTRE STAGE
MCA and PH candidates speak to and about polls strategies and aspirations
he was born, educated and has lived his whole life in Balakong, MCA candidate for the Balakong by-election Tan Chee Teong has been highlighting the people’s grouses even outside his party capacity.
Tan, 40, who had brought issues like the welfare of vendors to the municipal council, believed that regardless of the party that one contested under, it was more important that one worked hard to resolve issues faced by constituents.
Question: MCA is an opposition party. How does this affect your campaign strategy? Answer: As an opposition party, we will focus on issues faced by people on the ground rather than making promises related to policy implementation. It is the party in power that should be crafting policies and implementing them.
Q: Do you focus on local or national issues for this byelection? A: Both issues are important. However, contesting on the opposition ticket requires me to prioritise local issues.
Besides, I am contesting a state assembly seat rather than a parliamentary seat. I will focus on local issues as I was born and raised here, and understand what constituents want.
Q: Do you think MCA using its logo in this by-election can attract voters back to the party?
A: I am the underdog, so it is hard to expect the outcome.
What matters more for me is to be part of the opposition in the Selangor state assembly that can pressure the (state) government to do its job.
My priority is to resolve grassroots issues. I want to make sure the people are happy and prosperous. I hope that whenever they leave their homes, they would do so in a safer environment and with fewer local problems.
Q: MCA is no longer using the Barisan Nasional logo. What challenges can you expect in this by-election?
A: For me, there is no issue. I have many friends from various races as I am someone who works behind the scenes.
This time, I wear the MCA shirt not merely because of political reasons.
It does not matter whether one wears MCA, Umno, Pas, PKR or DAP shirts. I just wish to be a representative of the people and not merely a politician.
Q: Why did you accept MCA’s offer to name you as a by-election candidate?
A: I am a party member who does not care for positions or rewards. When the party wanted me to contest, I accepted it as I wanted to be an assemblyman that could act as a check and balance on the Selangor state administration.
Without checks and balances, there would be no pressure on the Pakatan Harapan state administration to do a good job.
As an opposition, I can pressure them to carry out their duties and responsibilities to the people. Otherwise, PH can be voted out in five years (in the 15th General Election).
being born i n Ipoh, Perak, Pakatan Harapan candidate for the Balakong by-election Wong Siew Ki has spent most of her life in Balakong.
Having experienced ups and downs with Balakong folk, including flash floods, the 32-year-old believed it was important for her to be a voice for the people in the Selangor state assembly, regardless of a person’s birth place.
Question: What is PH’s approach to the by-election now that the coalition is in power? Answer: Back then, as the opposition, we (PH) focused on ceramah as we wanted to tell the people what we wish to do for them.
Now, we campaign by relying less on ceramah and more on walkabouts to meet people to let them know what we wish to do for them and listen to their hopes and aspirations.
Q: What issues will be the focus of your campaign? National or local? A: Both issues are important and are in my mind.
However, right now, a majority of issues raised by voters in the area are problems like traffic congestion, safety and flash floods. suitable with current surrounding development.
Much of the projects promised by the late Eddie (Ng Tien Chee, the late Balakong assemblyman) have yet to be fulfilled.
So I will continue his work and fulfil the promises to the people that were made in the 14th General Election PH manifesto.
I will focus on safety and convenience of the local community.
Q: What about PH’s 100-day promises? Will they be addressed in your campaign?
A: If anyone raised the matter, I will answer the best I can. Currently, this has not been raised (by the people).
I believe that the people understand the issue as they do not only want a government that functions for the first 100 days.
They chose a government for five years. Much needs to be done.
We are forthright in saying what we can do, what we cannot do. I believe voters understand the situation.
Q: What are challenges that you foresee for this by-election?
A: The biggest challenge is to get voters to come out and vote.
Many say that this is only a by-election and would not have much effect on the state assembly.
We go down to the ground to meet as many people as possible to convince them of the importance of exercising their right to vote and to come out in large numbers on polling day.