Banking on ‘local boy’ status

PENGKALAN Kota candidate Lee Hack Teik and Tanjung parliamentary candidate Khaw Veon Szu are banking on their “local boy” status to win over their constituents.

Speaking at a ceramah at Gat Lebuh Sandilands on Monday night, the duo turned nostalgic talking about their childhood growing up in George Town inner city.

Lee, 56, recalled the days he used to run around the predominantly Chinese neighbourhood in shorts and how as an adult, he rode around on his weather beaten kap chai (Honda Cub).

“All of you here know me since I was a boy. And since I was elected as an assemblyman, you have also seen this fat man running around checking drains and attending temple ceremonies.


Lee (second right) distributing his report card to Weld Quay residents. Looking on is Tanjung candidate Khaw Veon Sze (third right).
“I live in Air Itam but Pengkalan Kota is my home because I am always here. When there is no electricity or water or when there are potholes and clogged drains, you call me even before you call the relevant authorities,” he said, adding that he understood the needs of the community because he was part of it.

“My father was born here so I really love this place. Give me another chance to work for you,” he said, warning the people against falling for the Opposition’s propaganda.

“They will just get you into trouble. They keep asking you to get rid of Barisan Nasional but why? This is a caring government. We have so many temples and shrines in Pengkalan Kota.

“The grandest Thnee Kong Seh (Jade Emperor’s birthday) and Phor Tor (Hungry Ghost Festival) and Kew Ong Yeah (Nine Emperor Gods) festivals in the country are celebrated at our waterfront settlement here.

“We have freedom to practise our religion and culture here.

“SRJK (C) Beng Teik Pusat in Lebuh Katz used to have only eight students but instead of closing it down, Barisan component parties like MCA and Gerakan worked tirelessly to raise funds and relocate the school to Bukit Mertajam,” he said, adding that with a stronger Chinese representation in the government, even more could be done.

Khaw, a first time candidate, said he lived in Lebuh Pantai for 28 years.

The 37-year-old lawyer and a former Penang Municipal Councillor, pledged to get the necessary funding for community projects to further improve living conditions in the area, if elected.

Earlier, during a visit to Lee’s election operations centre, MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy urged voters to continue supporting Lee because he was “among the party’s best” grassroots leaders in the country.

“He is very hardworking and down-to-earth and has been serving the constituents diligently since the day he was elected. That is why the MCA election machinery is well-oiled and running smoothly,’’ he said.