降低停車格收費

◆ 一些居民家門外就是停車格，單停車費每月就需付上百令吉。（圖：星洲日報）


（檳城）檳前彭加蘭哥打區州議員李學德在任時要求不果，今轉而要求羅興強行政議員“講到做到”，讓市政局停車格降低收費，週末則完全不收費。

李學德說，行動黨議員羅興強在大選前約1個月表示如果行動黨執政，市政局停車格週末將不收費。他為此要求羅興強“講到做到”。

“七條路這裡和很多地方目前每30分鐘停車需要40仙，車主負擔很重。政府應該體恤人民，減輕他們的負擔，最好可以減低收費，週末則免費。”

在任時爭取不果

他說，他曾在2006年9月任州議員時，開始致函市政局財務組要求降低或甚至免收取該區停車費，之後也多次與相關官員交涉。不過，直到今年3月他落選，當局也沒有確實回覆其要求。

他昨早以馬華彭加蘭哥打區服務隊主席的身分，在七條路一帶巡視停車格和當地民生問題後發表談話。

他本身在任時無法為選民爭取到上述“福利”，因此一直耿耿於懷。如今，他只好要求行動黨等民盟州政府能夠給人民這項“福利”。

落選後續為民服務

李學德落選後繼續為選民服務，向行動黨火箭隊隊長譚詠發在野時的服務看齊。他笑稱自己的“服務隊”目前就像譚詠發以前一樣，主席是他，做工的也是他。

他如今在彭亨路馬華總部設立服務中心，手機號碼仍是：016 -422 8688。他歡迎需要協助的人士隨時聯絡他。

另一方面，李學德看來比在任時還受媒體歡迎。週三（21日）早除了中文報記者採訪其開新聞發佈會，一些電視臺和馬來報記者都出席採訪。這種現象在他以前擔任州議員時，也是很罕見的。

星洲日報／大北馬‧2008.05.21

漆木街“路被牆佔”

■ 漆木街的停車位被圍牆霸佔了。（圖：星洲日報）

（檳城）前彭加蘭區州議員李學德今年3月8日大選落敗之後，足足休息了2個月，繼續“再戰江湖”！

他在週四（8日）“復出”的首場新聞發佈會，是到土庫街代投訴者促請新州政府和檳島市政局，在一週之內解決問題。

當地的商店人士投訴，一項修建戰前建築物工程圍牆，把接近土庫街交界處的一小段漆木街道路的一半道路圍了起來，同時把它面向土庫街的人行道也霸佔了。

錢幣找換商莫哈末卡米說，有關情況已有4年之久，由於顧客停放車輛的格位被霸佔，加上造成嚴重的堵車，令他們的生意深受影響。

李學德說，這是關係民生的問題，此外當地屬於檳州的旅遊區兼金融中心，有損檳州形象。

他說，如果州政府和市政局無法在一週之內解決問題，將意味著新州政府沒有效率。

■ 與福南並肩“接受投訴”

從執政議員變成在野黨政要的李學德，在他的首次新聞發佈會，巧遇前行政議員拿督丁福南。

由於丁福南過去掌管地方政府事務，他忙不迭的向李學德說：“現在不是我啦！”

然後，丁福南再指路邊溝渠蓋的小洞說：“這個洞幾時修補？”

李學德回答：“我現在正接受投訴。”然後雙方都笑起來。

在場的記者覺得怪怪的，檳州政治環境變天之後，他們的角色和過去幾乎天天接受民眾投訴的民主行動黨對調了。

雖失官職效影響效率
服務隊員卻有增無減

李學德說，大選落敗後，他仍然服務人民，只是沒有通過報界宣傳。

他說，失去官職，處理投訴效率受到影響，不再像過去般立刻就能把問題解決。

不過，他說，他的服務隊仍然對他忠心耿耿，雖然大選落敗，服務隊員人數卻是有增無減，目前他已成立了馬華彭加闌哥打區服務隊，並擔任主席。

他說，他現在是不甘寂寞，還想再戰江湖，準備在來臨的馬華黨選爭取丹絨區會重要職位。

他目前是丹絨區會委員，不過他表明不會攻打區會主席職位。

Urge to Remove fencing

Pengkalan Kota MCA task force chairman Lee Hack Teik said the fencing, put up three years ago to facilitate the renovation of the buildings, had taken up parking space along Bishop Street.

“It has narrowed the road, causing traffic congestion during peak hours.

“Several traders along the road told me that business had taken a dip as customers were reluctant to patronise their shops due to lack of parking space,” Lee told reporters at the site recently.

He believed that the renovation work at the heritage buildings had been completed.


Lee (second left) having a discussion with Mohd Kabir.

He said the Penang Municipal Council should remove the 100m-long fencing immediately.

Moneychanger Mohd Kabir Mohamed, 29, said he thought he was able to put up with the inconvenience for several months.

“But the fencing has been there since 2005. Many of my customers refused to come to my shop as they said the road was always congested,” he said.

A pharmacy salesman Mohd Rashid Ali, 60, asked: “What took them so long to complete the renovation?

“Even the renovation work at OCBC Bank was completed in six months,” he said.

The pre-war buildings were believed to be built in the early 1900s.

Candidates turn singers for a night

By ANDREA FILMER

WHEN we mix together all our cultures, the world is ours.

That was the message to Malaysians from incumbent Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Lee Hack Teik who was invited to the Sri Maha Sakthi Muneeswarar Jalbhavani Devasthanam Hindu temple on Jalan Pengkalan Weld in Penang on Tuesday.

Joined by first-time candidate Khaw Veon Szu who is contesting the Tanjung parliamentary seat, Lee was honoured and garlanded by members of the Simpang Tiga MIC division.

The duo received blessings from the temple priest before lighting joss-sticks at several Buddhist and Taoist shrines and altars nearby.

“We are lucky that in Malaysia we have so many Gods who take care of us all,” said Lee who is defending the Pengkalan Kota seat which he has held since 1995.


Lee (left) and Khaw belting out a Kokkien song during their visit to Pengkalan Kota.
The grassroots leader also lived up to his saying “You okay, I okay, We karaoke!” as he belted out well-known Hokkien and Mandarin songs like Shi Jie Di Yi Deng (The Best in The World) to the enjoyment of the crowd near the temple.

Lee later opened the new Simpang Tiga MIC operations centre.

In Bukit Mertajam, DAP candidates also belted out songs during a ceramah on Tuesday night to entertain the audience.

Incumbent Bukit Mertajam MP Chong Eng and Berapit candidate Ong Kok Fooi sang famous Mandarin medleys from the 1950s and 1960s at the ceramah held at Permatang Tinggi.

Ong sang Xiang Si He Bian (River of Memory) at the end of her speech which focused on education issues and the crime rate.

“I want to tell the audience not to forget me,” said Ong who is from Sungai Petani.

Chong Eng sang Sally Yeh’s Xiao Sa Zhou Yi Hui (Taking a Stroll) when plastic containers were passed around to collect funds for the DAP campaign trail.

“We wanted to entertain the audience and not just have a very serious political talk,” she explained after the ceramah.

Lee’s catchy slogan for the polls

SAMSENG po pi- that is the catchy Hokkien slogan Pengkalan Kota incumbent assemblyman Lee Hack Teik is changing these days.

The Barisan Nasional candidate will be serving his fourth term as an elected representative if he can successfully defend the state seat he has held for more than 12 years.

Lee, who is a popular figure among the predominantly Chinese voters, is known for his funny quips and slogans.

In 2004, his ang koo lak liap (half dozen red tortoise-shaped gluti-nous rice cakes in Hokkien) slogan (or an je le yue in Mandarin which means “harmonious life, flourish- ing career”) was among the most memorable election slogans among Hokkien-speaking Penangites.

This time around, he has coined an equally interesting catchphrase to win them over.


Lee being garlanded by MIC Simpang Tiga operations centre chairman S. Rajan (left).
“In Hokkien, samseng po pi means ‘gangster blessing.’ The slogan refers to ‘gangsters’ (samseng) turning over a new leaf, so that they can become a blessing (po pi) to those around them!

“In Mandarin, it is pronounced Sansing Pau Si which means ‘the Three Immortals – Hock, Lok, Siu (Health, Wealth and Prosperity) bring good news’ he laughed.

“We have many development projects that will boost the local economy and attract more people to come live here in the inner city.

“Since the repeal of the Rent Control Act in 2000, many have moved out of the constituency. In 2004, there were 20,785 voters in Pengkalan Kota. The number has fallen to 19,797.

“Work will start on a RM2.4 bil public transportation hub for express buses, taxis and an LRT terminal at Prangin Estate by the end of the year; the Weld Quay clan jetties are being spruced up and rehabilitated; 2,500 low cost flat units will be built at Gat Lebuh Noordin by the end of 2009; Swettenham Pier is being redeveloped; and there is more in the pipeline.

“These projects will definitely generate more business for the community,” said Lee who is banking on his strong service record to bring him through the general election.

Lee, who had also distributed 600 copies of a VCD report card earlier this month, said cooperation with the Barisan Government had enabled him to serve Pengkalan Kota residents well.

Komtar assemblyman Datuk Lim Gim Soon is 60 this year but believes he still has much to give.

“Experience will definitely help in the race. I have been in the company of Komtar residents everyday for years and people are looking for a representative who will be with them to help solve their problems.” said Lim, who is contesting in his final election.

Affordable housing and business opportunities are currently the most pressing issues in Tanjung, Lim added.

“Plans, which include boosting tourism and building about 10,000 low cost houses, are already underway to attract people back into the inner city,” he said.

“MCA's success in defending the state seats for so many years boils down to grassroots support and knowing what the people want. My constituents know that they can call me at any hour and I will respond.

“Komtar voters want to see more business being generated and this is something Barisan is working very hard on it.

“Flash floods are no longer a pro-blem here. Now our focus is on providing affordable housing for the hardcore poor and turning Komtar into a thriving business centre for George Town,” he said, adding that Chowrasta Market would be the heart of the project.

“A Taiwanese and local entrepre-neur has submitted a proposal to refurbish and manage the building. If approved by the Penang Municipal Council, the building will house a market, 24-hour eateries, shops lots, offices and entertainment outlets which will generate a lot of activity in the area.

“Within the next five years, Penang Road will be transformed into a shopping district like Singapore’s famous Orchard Road.

“Upgrading works on the Komtar building has started. We are now looking to beautify and clean up the entire Macalister Road area where more that 500 hawkers operate.

“Naturally, once the economy picks up, people will start coming back to Tanjung,” he said, adding that safety in the constituency has improved.

BN men say a little prayer

United in prayer: BN candidates (from left) Lim Gim Soon, Teng Chang Yeow, Khaw Veon Szu and Lee Hack Teik stopping by the Goddess of Mercy Temple in George Town before submitting their nomination papers at Dewan Sri Pinang on Sunday.

PENANG: With a tough battle ahead of them, several Barisan Nasional candidates here headed for temples to seek divine blessing before making their way to nomination centres yesterday.

In Tanjung, incumbents Lee Hack Teik (Pengkalan Kota), Lim Gim Soon (Komtar), Teng Chang Yeow (Padang Kota) and new face Khaw Veon Szu (Tanjung) turned up at the Goddess of Mercy temple to offer prayers before submitting their nomination papers at Dewan Sri Pinang.

Lee, 56, said that while Goddess of Mercy Kuan Yin took care of Tanjung, “Barisan also wanted security, peace, harmony and progress for the inner city.”

About the same time, the three Bukit Gelugor MCA candidates – Datuk Koay Kar Huah (Bukit Gelugor parliamentary seat), Loh Nam Hooi (Seri Delima state seat) and Koh Wan Leong (Paya Terubong state seat) – paid homage to deities at the Seri Veerama Kaliamman Devasthanam Temple in Gelugor.

Penang is set to be the hottest spot this general election with the Opposition setting its sights on at least eight of the 13 parliamentary seats and half of the 40 state seats.

This time, three-cornered fights will take place for the Jelutong parliamentary seat and the Datuk Keramat, Sungai Pinang and Prai state seats. The remaining 12 parliamentary and 37 state seats will see straight fights between the Barisan Nasional candidates and opponents from DAP, PKR and PAS.

Earlier, a DAP branch treasurer from Selangor sprang a surprise when he turned up as an independent candidate for the Jelutong parliamentary and Sungai Pinang state seats.

Company director Badrul Zaman P.S. Md Zakariah, 57, of the party’s Ehsan branch, said he expected to be suspended or sacked.

The anticipated three-way fight in Kepala Batas fizzled out when Parti Mahasiswa Negara candidate Zainol Faqar Yaacop, 24, failed to submit his nomination papers on time at Dewan Millennium.

In Bagan, where DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng is taking on a new MCA face, Song Choy Leng, it was like a big football match day at the nomination centre with plenty of vocal support and banners.

DAP national chairman Karpal Singh was carried up the stairs in his wheelchair to the nomination centre at the SM Chung Hwa Confucian in Island Park. Karpal Singh, who is defending his Bukit Gelugor parliamentary seat, will face MCA’s Datuk Koay Kar Huah.

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.